Chapter 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Naming Ceremony
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2.
Yu-hyun and Erannis arrived via spatial transfer magic at none other than the Dragon Lord's lair.
This place was a small castle situated on an island floating in the sky.
And right now, several dragons had already gathered here.
None other than the elders from each dragon clan.
Even for highly individualistic dragons, the birth of a hatchling held special significance.
Especially the naming ceremony, which was quite the momentous occasion.
It was the name a single being would carry for thousands of years.
Thus, unless something extraordinary intervened, the presence of the Lord and the elders was mandatory for a hatchling's naming.
"Lord, I've arrived."
In response to her greeting, Granasron smiled and replied,
"A beautiful child has been born."
Erannis flashed a pleased smile at the golden-haired man grinning down at his own child.
"Whose child wouldn't be beautiful? And the things he does are just so adorable."
With that, she poked the cheek of the still-sleeping Yu-hyun.
Even after a month, he was nothing but cute.
Leranas, Erannis's mother from the Red Clan, approached with a laugh.
"What a pretty child."
"Of course, Mom."
'Mom's mother?'
Yu-hyun quietly opened his eyes to gaze at the beautiful woman with red hair and crimson eyes—his grandmother.
'Is that really my grandma? She doesn't look much older than Mom.'
With zero knowledge about dragons, Yu-hyun tilted his head and asked,
"Grandma?"
Leranas smiled warmly at his reaction.
"Yes, I'm your grandmother."
She approached Erannis and took Yu-hyun into her arms.
'Dragons really are something else. My grandma looks so young.'
As Yu-hyun marveled inwardly, a man with silver hair and silver eyes just like his mother suddenly scooped him up.
Grinning broadly, he said,
"I'm your grandpa."
Yu-hyun's eyes widened in surprise.
'Grandpa's young too.'
He was quite shocked, but at the same time, a question arose about one missing presence.
'What about Dad?'
Yu-hyun was just starting to wonder about his absent father when a black-haired man cautiously approached Erannis.
"Hello, little one?"
The black-haired, black-eyed man, who evoked images of the Central Plains, drew near.
At the handsome stranger's appearance, Yu-hyun's eyes went wide, while Erannis's gaze sharpened—and she promptly punched him.
"Gah!"
The man recoiled in horror from the sudden uppercut and protested,
"What the hell was that for?!"
"Huh? Who are you? Do I know you? What a weirdo."
Erannis eyed him coldly before taking Yu-hyun back from Leranas's arms.
Yu-hyun asked,
"Who is he?"
"Oh, just some useless guy when it comes to dragon reproduction."
The man protested as Erannis spat it out without a hint of hesitation.
"I'm the father! Useless?!"
Erannis gave him a blank stare as he wailed in indignation, then flashed a sweet smile.
"Get lost."
Without a backward glance, she spun on her heel and left.
Watching her go, Karman clutched his neck with a choked gasp.
He wanted to rage, but Erannis had the nastier temper.
Watching their exchange, Yu-hyun muttered inwardly,
'Looks like I won't be seeing Dad's face for a while.'
He felt a twinge of pity, but instinctively knew it was best not to dwell on it.
To name the newly born hatchling, representatives from the six clans—Gold, Silver, Red, Blue, Black, and White—had gathered in the Dragon Lord's lair hall.
The Red and Black Dragon elders were in hibernation, so proxies attended in their stead.
Yu-hyun's grandparents were present as elders from their respective clans.
Confirming everyone was in attendance, Granasron let out a short breath and spoke.
"Then let's begin the naming ceremony. Anyone with suggestions, raise your..."
Before he could finish, Erannis, Karman, and most of the other dragons shot up their hands.
At their reaction, the great Dragon Lord Granasron looked to the ceiling with a sigh of exasperation.
Even for highly individualistic dragons, naming a being who would carry it for thousands of years was an immense honor.
Thus, dragons were intensely obsessed with naming their kin.
As Granasron foresaw the ceremony devolving into chaos, Erannis glanced at Karman to her left and smashed her fist into his side.
Thwack!
"Guh!"
Karman collapsed with a pained scream. Erannis had simply eliminated one rival.
Undeterred, Granasron eyed the four who hadn't raised their hands.
The first was the Black Clan's proxy, attending for their hibernating elder. His bored expression suggested little interest in names.
The second was Yu-hyun's grandmother and Red Clan proxy elder, Leranas, too busy cooing over Yu-hyun.
Likewise, Yu-hyun's grandfather and Silver Clan elder, Elencan, clicked his tongue and watched the mess unfold.
Finally, Karman, forcibly sidelined by Erannis.
Having assessed the situation, Granasron turned to Erannis.
"Erannis, the child's name should be decided in consultation with the other elders..."
She replied without hesitation,
"Why should I consult those old fogeys about naming my child?"
As she jabbed an accusatory finger, Granasron clutched his face.
The other elders weren't about to take her words lightly either.
In the end, Yu-hyun's naming ceremony spiraled into pandemonium, just as the Dragon Lord had predicted.
It was exceedingly rare for such self-centered dragons to debase themselves like this for another's sake.
Meanwhile, under Leranas's care, Yu-hyun watched the other dragons snarling and baring teeth over his name, his face a mask of disbelief.
'What? It's just a name. Why make such a fuss?'
Unaware of names' gravity, Yu-hyun couldn't comprehend their behavior.
"Why fight so hard over a name?"
Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked Leranas.
She chuckled softly at the question.
"Naming someone is a big deal."
"..."
Yu-hyun's expression remained puzzled at the curt explanation, prompting a surprised look from Leranas.
She then smiled kindly and added,
"You've got some unique quirks, don't you?"
Ordinary hatchlings would accept "important" at face value.
Dragons were like that.
They could communicate with kin instinctively and possessed strong egos from birth.
They inherently knew they were special.
How to explain it?
After pondering, Leranas spoke.
"Simply put, it means you're precious."
'Precious?'
Yu-hyun blinked.
In the meantime, the mood grew ever more hostile.
"Erannis, is that any way to act in front of the elders?"
A White Dragon elder growled lowly, but Erannis merely picked at her ear with her pinky.
Outraged, the elder started to rise, only held back by the others.
Getting emotional here would only worsen things.
Granasron, suppressing a headache, addressed her.
"Erannis, you know the naming ceremony celebrates a new hatchling's birth with me, the Dragon Lord, and all the elders present. Don't be so stubborn."
The Dragon Lord reasoned patiently.
At his words, Erannis teared up dramatically, rushed to Yu-hyun sitting quietly in a corner, hugged him tight, and wailed,
"But...! He's my precious firstborn! I have a name I really want to give him!"
Karman, silently watching, muttered,
"He's my firstborn too..."
"Shut up."
Erannis snapped at Karman as he quietly asserted his rights.
Regardless, her display left the elders in a bind.
Yu-hyun felt an inexplicable pang in his chest at his mother's reaction.
Then Leranas, who had been observing silently, spoke up.
"Cut the fake tears."
"Tch."
Erannis clicked her tongue immediately.
'It was fake crying?'
Yu-hyun, who had almost fallen for it, stuck out his tongue inwardly.
Leranas sighed, head aching as she watched her daughter cling to her own child.
She understood the sentiment, though.
Leranas glanced at Elencan, who nodded as their eyes met.
"With such intransigence, consulting further seems pointless, Lord."
"Seems so."
Granasron gave a wry smile.
The final decision was by vote anyway.
With a majority, and Leranas and Elencan on board, Yu-hyun's name would be set smoothly.
Erannis beamed at Leranas.
The other dragon elders resigned themselves with helpless shrugs.
Leranas then asked,
"So, what's the name you've got in mind?"
"Nabi!"
Twitch.
A vein bulged on Leranas's forehead.
"Rejected."
"Why?! It's such a cute name!"
As Erannis protested vehemently, Leranas forced a smile and asked,
"Do you think 'Nabi' suits a dragon? What is this, a pet name?"
"If it's cute, that's enough! What's wrong with that?!"
Thwack!
"Aaaah!"
Leranas finally snapped and punched her daughter in the face.
Erannis clutched her face and screamed.
Yu-hyun broke into a cold sweat watching.
He'd thought names didn't matter much, but the reactions suggested otherwise.
With Erannis's suggestion swiftly dismissed, the other dragons resumed pondering proper names.
Erannis grumbled, but Leranas's merciless fists were her only response.
"Do you have a name in mind?"
The elders proposed several after deliberation, but none quite fit.
Elencan, who had been watching, finally asked Karman.
Erannis opened her mouth to object loudly, but clamped it shut at the sight of Leranas's fist with its bulging vein.
"I did have one..."
"If it's weird, better scrap it."
Karman waved his hands in denial at Elencan's icy warning.
"So, what is it?"
"Eirana."
"Eirana?"
Elencan stroked his chin.
"Not bad."
The Black Dragon proxy, who had stayed neutral, nodded approvingly.
It was the most fitting among those suggested so far.
That sparked positive reactions from the others to Karman's idea.
The only one displeased was Erannis, glaring daggers at him.
She asked Yu-hyun sullenly,
"What do you think of Eirana?"
"Eirana?"
Yu-hyun murmured the name.
Erannis smiled faintly at him.
"Of course you'd prefer Nabi... Ow!"
Leranas smacked the back of her head as she pushed her point forcefully, wearing a pained expression.
If it were a joke, she'd laugh, but her daughter was dead serious. That was the problem.
'When will she grow up?'
Leranas tsked inwardly, snatched Yu-hyun from Erannis, and asked,
"What do you think?"
Yu-hyun, sweating as he watched Erannis cradle her head, pondered briefly before answering Leranas.
"I like it."
Leranas smiled.
"Then it's settled."
She handed Yu-hyun back to Erannis and said,
Erannis pouted briefly upon reclaiming her child but soon chuckled.
If the kid liked it, what did the name matter?
Granasron nodded at the pair.
"Very well. That concludes the naming ceremony. The new Silver Clan hatchling shall be named Eirana."