Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Fallen into Dragon Romance - 2
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Ellie's voice was tiny.
Her face was still beet red, like a blazing fireball.
"Holding hands?"
"Yes..."
Ellie nodded.
I couldn't help but be momentarily flustered.
'Here?'
I glanced around. Fortunately, our section was partitioned off. No one else could see us.
"Right now?"
"Ah, no! Later! Later!"
Ellie waved her hands frantically.
"Just... sometime."
Even as she said that, Ellie kept staring at me.
Her eyes were full of expectation.
'Fine, whatever.'
I sighed and held out my hand.
"Give it here."
"Pardon?"
Ellie's eyes blinked rapidly.
"Your hand."
"Ah..."
Ellie cautiously extended her hand.
It was small and warm. I took it in mine.
Not just a simple hold—I interlaced our fingers, just like in the scene she'd shown me.
"L-Like this?"
Ellie's voice trembled.
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"Y-Yes. That's it."
Her ears turned bright red as she stared down at our joined hands.
"It's warm."
"Yeah?"
"Yes."
Ellie smiled happily.
Prostia glanced over slyly, then sidled up to the seat beside me before I knew it.
"What's this? Why only you two?"
"Huh?"
"Me too."
"What?"
"I want to hold hands too, Soulmate."
I looked at Prostia's face.
What should I say? She seemed a little sulky.
"Why only for Ellie?"
"Well, it's..."
"I saw a hand-holding scene in the manga too."
Prostia showed me the book.
A baseball manga with a hand-holding scene? Sure enough, there it was.
The team members gripping hands and shouting "Fight!" together.
"Isn't this a bit different?"
"It's still holding hands."
Prostia grabbed my hand.
Precisely, my left one.
Since Ellie had my right, Prostia had chosen the left.
"Lady Prostia!"
"What? We agreed to share, didn't we?"
"That's true, but... Master is mine right now..."
"Selfish."
Prostia laughed and squeezed my hand tight.
Ellie gripped harder in response, refusing to back down.
It was so intense I worried my hands might get crushed.
I just sat there, hands claimed on both sides.
"Soulmate."
"Yeah?"
"Your hand's warm."
"I-Is it?"
"Yeah. It makes me feel warm too. I like it."
Prostia smiled contentedly, and beside her, Ellie puffed out her cheeks.
"I grabbed Master first."
"Right. You did. You were first."
"See? I was first."
Seeing the signs of an escalating battle of nerves, I clamped my mouth shut.
I had no idea what to say, and opening my mouth carelessly felt like it could lead to disaster.
In the end, Prostia chuckled and opened the book.
"Let's just stay like this. It's comfy and nice."
"Lady Prostia..."
Ellie shot Prostia a dissatisfied look.
But Prostia ignored her and kept reading.
Ellie finally sighed and opened her book too.
I read along, hands still held on both sides.
I wanted to turn to the next part, but oh well.
Still...
"Hee hee... Master."
"Soulmate..."
Seeing them so satisfied, I couldn't bring myself to complain.
Fine. Let them enjoy themselves today.
They came all the way from that distant world, eyes only for me.
How much time passed like that?
Bzzz-
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
'A text?'
If my hands were free, I'd check right away, but they weren't.
"Hold on."
I tried to pull my hands free.
"Why?"
"What's up?"
They asked in unison.
"Think I got a text."
"You can check later."
Ellie gripped tighter.
But it vibrated again.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Two in a row.
'This isn't a normal text.'
"Sorry. Gotta check it."
I freed my hands.
They both looked disappointed, but no choice.
I pulled out my phone and checked the screen.
[Gate Occurrence in Daejeon Western District Area]
[Awakeners Able to Assemble: Dispatch Immediately]
[Danger Level: Estimated A-Rank]
My expression hardened the moment I saw it.
"Master? What's wrong?"
"A gate opened."
Ellie's face grew serious too.
"Sorry. I have to go."
"I'll come too!"
"Obviously. You're my Summoned Beast."
As we stood, Prostia rose with us.
"I'll go too."
"Prostia?"
"I can fight. Doesn't feel right sending just you two."
I hesitated briefly.
But considering Prostia's strength, she'd actually be a huge help.
The Ice Queen, after all.
Even Ellie admitted she was on par with a Grade 7 disaster.
This lineup might be overly luxurious.
"Alright. Let's go."
We rushed out of the manga cafe.
The counter staff gave us a puzzled look, but no time to care.
"Where is it?"
"Western District... Not far."
"Ellie, give us a ride."
"It's been a while."
Light burst from Ellie's body.
In an instant, her form grew massive, scales sprouting across her skin.
Wings unfurled, and a tail extended.
The golden dragon.
Ellie's roar echoed through the streets.
People around screamed.
"Ah, s-s-sorry!"
Ellie clamped her mouth shut, looking sheepish.
She said roaring was instinctive.
'Gonna cause a scene.'
But this wasn't the time.
Emergency situation.
We climbed onto Ellie's back.
She spread her wings wide and soared into the sky.
"Let's go, Ellie."
Ellie shot forward swiftly.
She crossed over central Daejeon.
Buildings shrank below us.
"Over there."
I pointed ahead.
A gate leaking black light came into view.
And around it, the crowds gathering, and police barricades trying to hold them back.
"Let's land."
As Ellie began her steep descent, the ground rushed up.
Thud!
"Raaaaargh!!"
"Ellie!"
"S-S-Sorrrry!"
Startled faces turned toward us.
I'd have to think twice about riding Ellie in public next time.
Way too conspicuous.
Ellie shrank back in embarrassment.
"Urgh..."
I stroked her head as she reverted to human form.
"It's fine. You were in a rush."
Ellie nodded.
We headed toward the police barricade.
"Hold it! This is a restricted area!"
A cop raised his hand to stop me.
Ah, I'd always wanted to do this.
There was something awakeners always did when gates popped up in the city.
"I'm an Awakener."
I pulled out my Awakener ID on my phone and showed it.
The cop checked it and nodded.
"Ah! Please, come through, Awakener."
"Thanks."
"Could you show your regular ID too?"
I nodded and fished out my ID.
I'd always wanted to try it. Some inexplicable romantic appeal.
"Where is it—"
Right then.
Krzzzzzt— A strange noise came from the gate.
All eyes turned to it.
The rift began rippling violently.
'This is...!'
A bad premonition hit me.
"Get back!"
The moment I shouted, the gate exploded outward.
Black light burst everywhere, and monsters poured out from within.
Ejection phenomenon.
Rare occurrence.
When a gate overflows with monsters it can't contain and bursts.
The worst scenario in a city center.
Even worse: residual mana blades shooting out like knives in the process.
A mishap could mean casualties.
But.
"I'll block it."
Prostia swiftly conjured an ice shield, deflecting the blades heading for the civilians.
"Master!"
"I'm fine. This much is nothing."
Maybe because it was my first time seeing it.
Ellie swatted away a blade hurtling toward me at blinding speed, but it left a light scratch on her cheek.
She'd be dead if she'd stayed still, so this was a bargain.
But.
"Master."
Ellie's voice changed.
"You got hurt on your face."
"Huh? It's fine. A little ointment and it'll—"
"How dare you."
Golden light erupted from Ellie's body.
"Raaaaaaaagh!"
Her roar shook the ground.
The monsters faltered, and Prostia turned around.
She must have seen my face.
The blood trickling from the cut on my cheek.
"Soulmate."
"Yeah?"
"You're hurt."
Prostia's eyes shifted.
Long, translucent ice spears began forming around her.
The Ice Queen and the golden dragon.
"Ellie."
"Yes, Lady Prostia."
"Don't leave a single one."
"Naturally."
Cold air began blanketing everything in white.
Scorching heat began burning everything to black.
I watched the scene and prayed for the monsters' next lives.
'Be born human next time.'