The Shadow Dragon's Rage

The morning assembly was always suffocating. Wellington felt as if an invisible hand clamped around his throat the moment it began, cutting off his breath. He couldn't help it. These days, every report from Bicken Territory carried nothing but grim news.

"The breeders are exerting themselves, yet the number of confirmed pregnancies remains low. We will need to monitor the situation further. Most concerning of all, not a single otherworlder has managed to impregnate anyone. As they themselves claimed, this is likely because they originated from a world without mana. The most recently summoned human claims he can coat his fist in mana, but... the rest still cannot accumulate it properly. For that reason, I believe we should provide them with at least minimal training to help them adapt to our world."

Knight Commander Leona delivered her carefully organized thoughts in a crisp report. Though the words were formally addressed to Wellington, they were truly meant for Melania de Umbra, who oversaw the meeting from her seat of absolute authority.

"What is your opinion?"

"Ah! However, the otherworlders are dangerous. They arrive in this world bearing special abilities, and among those powers—"

Wellington's words died in his throat. An overwhelming pressure crushed his entire body. It felt like insects crawling across his skin, a primal terror that slithered upward from his toes to the crown of his head.

"Ha! Dangerous? No matter how much those otherworlders might struggle and flail, they are no match for us dragons. And you dare oppose me over something so trivial?"

"N-no, my lady. I misspoke."

Melania de Umbra did not soften her expression even after Wellington's apology. Instead, her face twisted with greater irritation as she impatiently gestured for him to continue.

"Yes. This month alone, approximately ten thousand deaths have been attributed to the black plague."

"Twenty thousand? What exactly have you been doing while this catastrophe unfolds? Prepare countermeasures at once!"

Fuck...

Wellington cursed inwardly. The mere mention of the black plague never failed to ignite Melania's fury. As the saying went, a nation's strength flowed from its population. People were the ultimate resource.

The black plague that erupted after the war with their neighboring Kerens Territory had been an unrelenting nightmare. Their current total population hovered around two hundred thousand. Another ten thousand deaths this month had reduced it to a mere one hundred ninety thousand. When one considered that their numbers had reached four hundred thousand only a few years earlier, the true horror of the plague became painfully clear.

Of course, Wellington had done everything in his power. When the outbreak first began, over forty thousand lives had vanished in the blink of an eye.

Whether fewer people simply remained to die or whether his efforts had finally begun to bear fruit was impossible to determine. To Melania, however, none of that mattered. The only relevant fact was that their population had shrunk yet again.

Why else would they force humans to breed like livestock if not to crush the arrogance of Ignis de Flamme, the dragon who ruled the neighboring lands?

From Melania's perspective, even partial success in containment was not enough to spare Wellington her wrath.

"At this rate, that bitch Ignis may invade our territory, yet you still have no countermeasures prepared!"

"Lady Melania, the black plague has also broken out in Kerens Territory. They are suffering catastrophic losses. According to reports from our spy, Lady Ignis flew into a violent rage several days ago."

"Do not attach 'Lady' to that bitch's name in my presence."

"My apologies. It seems... calling the names of dragon lords so casually... Please forgive my transgression."

Leona's careful words managed to ease Melania's temper slightly. The black dragon leaned back, a faint, mocking smile touching her lips.

So that bitch Ignis is struggling too? Hmph. As expected from the fool who challenged me to a territorial war and lost. Territory management must be done properly—like I do it.

Melania allowed herself a moment of smug satisfaction before gesturing for the next report.

"Lady Melania, have you perchance heard anything about black plague prevention methods from the otherworlder?"

"Ertia!"

Ertia Bicken.

Though she was merely a common knight, as Wellington's daughter she possessed the right to attend these meetings.

At her shocking statement, Wellington shot to his feet.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The faint smile that had begun to form on Melania's face vanished, replaced by a shadow darker than her own scales.

"Cough—! Cough...!!"

Melania bound Wellington with magic as he lunged to silence his daughter, then urged Ertia to continue.

"The recently summoned otherworlder—Alpha—claims he knows a method to prevent the black plague."

Ertia glanced briefly at her father. His bald head. His body, soft and bloated from years without exercise despite the mana that sustained it.

Truly... even among men, the difference can be this vast.

She had never been close to her father, but after the scorching nights spent with Alpha, her disdain for her entire family had only deepened.

That bitch...!

Wellington saw the look in his daughter's eyes and felt pure panic. They had never been a loving father and daughter. To him, she had always been nothing more than a political tool to secure alliances with other houses. He had never approved of her constant attempts to seize control of Bicken Territory by pushing aside her older brother.

"Continue."

"Yes. Several days ago, I had the opportunity to monitor Alpha in place of Erika. During that time, he displayed considerable scholarly knowledge. After completing his breeding duties, he spent the entire day in the study reading. Unlike the otherworlders we have summoned before, he appears to be a true intellectual. He stated that he knows a way to prevent the black plague and wishes to speak with you directly, Lady Melania."

A cold smile spread across Ertia's face.

That... that little whore...!

Wellington bit his lip until it bled. She couldn't simply marry into another family and live as a proper, obedient bride. No, she had to obstruct both her father and brother's paths like this—!

"Even more surprising is that he mentioned this a full week ago. Erika, who finds it difficult to even report matters to you, Lady Melania—who exactly did she tell? I cannot imagine."

"...Wellington. Is this true?"

"Huk... huk... Y-yes, my lady. It is true. However, considering the rudeness that man attempted, there is a strong possibility this is—"

Freed from the crushing pressure, Wellington immediately began defending himself. But his excuses died the instant Melania appeared directly before him, her face inches from his own.

Those vertically slit reptilian pupils.

Those hateful, terrifying eyes that dragons revealed only when their rage had reached its peak.

"L-Lady Melania..."

Grab!

Melania's small, delicate hand seized Wellington by the nose.

"Wellington... Wellington. Have you forgotten your place simply because I deign to speak your name? Or has that pathetic title of lord over this insignificant territory made you arrogant? Why have you been testing my patience these past few days? I entrusted you with an otherworlder capable of using mana the moment he arrived, yet he casts magic at will... and now you dare conceal information this vital..."

"KRAAAAAK—!! KRAAAAK—!!!"

A sickening crunch echoed through the chamber as the floor became drenched in blood. Wellington's nose tore away from his face with shocking ease, rolling across the stone like discarded garbage.

Even at such a gruesome sight, no one dared speak. This was the fury of a dragon. Interfere, and that fury would turn upon you next.

"Tsk. All of you, get out."

Melania suppressed her boiling rage and dismissed the assembly. Managing a territory was always this tiresome. In the end, the decisions were hers, but the execution fell to humans. If they chose to deceive her, even she might be fooled.

Of course, as a dragon vastly superior to humans, she could simply review every ledger and letter to uncover their lies... but honestly, it was too much effort.

The territory-raising game currently popular among dragons was never about tedious paperwork. It was about observing humans and occasionally intervening to steer their development.

"Still... I suppose I must handle things myself for now."

Despite her irritation, Melania decided she would have to take over some duties in place of that pathetic Wellington.

Ignis de Flamme.

She wanted to see that hated rival kneeling before her more than anything.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

*

"Haaup... Haaung...♥♥ I-it feels so good...!! Ah, Alpha! I'm—I'm cumming...♥♥"

Maria's toes curled tightly as another orgasm tore through her. How many times had she climaxed in this short span?

"Haaah... haaah... You're incredible, Alpha."

Maria panted heavily, her body glistening with sweat.

But I still hadn't finished.

"I could use a break, but... since I've come ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the breeding chamber, I suppose I must fulfill my duty, right?"

Squeeze...!

Maria, who had become a widow before even sharing a wedding night with her husband, clung to me desperately with both arms.

"Please... impregnate me just like this...♥"

"As you wish."

The ring that once held memories of her husband was gone. She no longer needed those memories now that she had become a slave to my Alpha Male cock.

She had probably tossed it aside somewhere.

Unfortunately, once her pregnancy was confirmed, she would never see me again. I felt some pity for her, but it couldn't be helped. I was the breeder. She was merely breeding stock.

Once pregnancy was verified, she would be forbidden from entering this chamber again.

"Slurp...♥♥!!!"

With a faint sense of guilt for permanently ruining her for any other man, I gave her lips a gentle kiss.

Still, she would live well enough carrying my child. Female maternal instincts were powerful. Especially toward children born from an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Alpha Male's superior genes.

She wouldn't spend her life yearning only for my cock. But it was only right to leave her with at least one beautiful memory.

"Paha...!! Alpha... that was amazing. If it's alright... mmmph."

"Maria. I'm sorry."

The moment our ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lips parted, I pressed a finger to her mouth before she could confess her feelings with that flushed, lovestruck face.

"Yeah... that's right. Sorry. I told you before. Our time together ends here... Haha... It's sad. I wonder if we'll ever meet again?"

"If fortune smiles on us. I'll soon be speaking with the Dragon-nim."

"You really are something else, Alpha. Then again, if the Dragon-nims ever saw a cock like yours, they wouldn't be able to resist either."

Maria.

A woman I never would have embraced if not for these circumstances. She was beautiful, but not someone I would take responsibility for forever.

Had we met under normal conditions, she would have been nothing more than a passing fancy. Not someone I would so freely bless with my seed.

"I'm cumming."

"Huuup... Cum... cum inside me... Even if I'm already pregnant... fill me one more time—♥♥!!"

Spurt—! Spurttt—!!

Fountain—!!

The moment I released, Maria responded with a magnificent squirt of her own.

With a wet squelch, my cock slid free. Perhaps the kiss while climaxing had been too much for her.

"Ahak...♥ Aheek...♥"

Maria's body twitched and creaked in strange angles, as if her mind had short-circuited. She remained trapped in the lingering waves of ecstasy.

Jingle, jingle.

"..."

When I rang the bell, Erika entered with her usual blank expression. Pretending it wasn't obvious, she stole a quick glance at my still-hard cock before pointing at Maria.

"Please move her to the resting room."

"Understood, Sir Knight."

The maids who appeared from behind carried Maria's limp body away.

"That is all for today. L-Lady Melania has granted you an audience. Follow me. You must wash thoroughly and prepare yourself..."

From Erika's words, I could tell events were unfolding exactly as I had planned.

The moment I learned yesterday that Ertia was nobility, I had asked her to arrange a meeting with Melania. As expected, unlike the commoner Erika, when a noble like Ertia made the request, everything moved with astonishing speed.

After bathing in the prepared bath and changing into fresh clothes, Erika spoke to me in a trembling voice.

"As I thought... you prefer Ertia over me, don't you? I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I'm useless to you..."

She sounded on the verge of tears.

"What are you talking about? You've helped me tremendously, Erika."

"B-but I'm only a commoner, so the other knights look down on me... and I couldn't even fulfill that simple request you made..."

Despite what she said, Erika was genuinely exceptional. Having spent time here, I understood just how impressive her Swordsmanship LV 17 truly was.

Most knights ended their careers as Aura Users—roughly level 9 or 10.

Erika, however, had reached mid-tier Sword Expert at level 17. Considering Sword Expert came after Sword User, her talent was undeniable.

Though her commoner status meant she suffered political harassment from the mostly noble knights and received little recognition, the fact that she was an outstanding female could not be denied.

"Would I have been brought to the study if not for you, Erika? If that Ertia I met yesterday had been my handler, she would have scolded me the moment I asked to visit the library. Thanks to you, I've learned much more about this world. As I said before, thank you."

"...Huu... huuk... I thought I wasn't helping at all... Huaaang...!!"

Erika finally broke down in tears.

After comforting her thoroughly, I was at last granted another audience with Melania de Umbra.

"Enter, human."