The Hatchling's First Warm Welcome
‘Hostility?’
Perdikion stared at the Imugi offering a handshake before slowly grasping the outstretched hand.
The unpleasant hostility had already vanished.
Yet the gaze that remained was still one that seemed ready to devour its prey—hardly appropriate for an ordinary first greeting.
‘Strange.’
The Imugi narrowed his eyes, then quickly returned them to normal.
‘What reason could there be to look at a hatchling who was born only days ago with eyes like that? It’s as if… he’s staring at an enemy holding a sword.’
It was fortunate the observer was an Imugi; had it been a real newborn hatchling, bursting into tears at such a look would have been perfectly understandable.
He wanted to learn the reason behind those insolent eyes, but before he could, a baby bird burst forth, spreading its wings wide and opening its beak in a combative display.
“Piiyaa!”
The white chick that had been sitting quietly atop the Imugi’s head until now raised the black feather on its crown and cried out, drawing Perdikion’s gaze.
“What is this? This insignificant little…”
It was a very soft mutter, nearly a breath, audible only to the Imugi standing close by.
For a moment Perdikion’s face flickered with realization, but he quickly composed himself and spoke to Christina.
“What kind of bird is that? It doesn’t seem like an ordinary one, though it’s still quite… small. Perhaps because it’s young.”
“Isn’t it adorable? This little one is a baby phoenix.”
“A baby phoenix?”
Unlike his earlier cold demeanor, his expression now shifted with genuine surprise.
“But the previous phoenix is still alive, isn’t it?”
“This is the first time I’ve encountered anything like it as well, but an anomaly has occurred. It hasn’t fully awakened as a complete phoenix yet, so we’re observing for now. Pasiyas already knows about the matter.”
Perdikion looked as though he wanted to say more, but at the mention of ‘Pasiyas’ he promptly closed his mouth.
He seemed to have decided not to interfere, reasoning that this was already under discussion between Christina, the Gold Dragon Elder, and Pasiyas, the Red Dragon Elder.
“…I see. Understood.”
“Hehe. In any case, thank you for coming all this way, Perdikion.”
Christina reached out and gently stroked his head.
‘I thought he would dislike it. Surprisingly, he’s staying still.’
Just as she reflected that it was unexpected for someone trying so hard to act mature, Christina spoke to Perdikion again.
“Please become a good older brother to this child.”
“Understood.”
A few strands of his bangs fell forward as Christina withdrew her hand.
Whether it was his imagination or not, Perdikion looked faintly disappointed the moment the stroking hand left.
‘So that’s how it is. A child is still a child after all.’
The Imugi flapped his wings, crossed his arms in midair, and floated up to observe Perdikion.
To an Imugi who had lived nearly a thousand years in his previous life, the other was little more than a young child.
He had intended to play along appropriately while living as a hatchling, yet the memory of Perdikion’s earlier behavior still lingered.
‘He hid it well… but that strange look from before is bothering me.’
A sharp gaze directed at a young child was not something he could easily overlook.
The Imugi fell into brief thought.
‘Shall I test him?’
After a moment’s hesitation, he stretched out his short arm and patted Perdikion’s head exactly as Christina had done.
Even brushing against the collar of someone who disliked you was unpleasant; touching their head and patting it would surely provoke a reaction.
‘This much could be excused as a child simply imitating an adult. I wonder how he’ll respond.’
Perdikion’s eyes widened in apparent fluster and he jerked his head back. The Imugi blinked at him with innocent eyes.
“W-what are you doing?”
“Kyu?”
While maintaining a sly expression and watching closely, the Imugi saw Perdikion’s composure visibly crack.
‘Look at that.’
Instead of the politeness and courtesy he had shown earlier, Perdikion now wore messy hair from the clumsy patting, the tips of his ears flushed bright red.
The one truly flustered by the sight was the Imugi.
‘This… is not the reaction I expected at all.’
While his hand was still paused, Perdikion spat out a short breath and pulled his head away.
“Don’t do that.”
In truth, he had come after hearing Pasiyas declare that he must overwhelmingly suppress and stand above the young successor of darkness.
Moreover, upon learning the other was a genius acknowledged by Christina herself, he had no choice but to glare at the Imugi from the very first meeting.
‘Is he not afraid of me? He should be trembling in fear. Why is he behaving like this?’
Normally, when Perdikion displayed hostility, others should have been cowed by his fierce eyes and overwhelming aura, unable even to meet his gaze.
No matter how talented, he was still a newborn hatchling.
It should have been obvious he would shrink back in terror, sniffling and whimpering; reporting that scene to Pasiyas would surely have brought satisfaction.
Yet this small, tiny creature had responded with warm, friendly hospitality.
After staring quietly at the one who radiated hostility, he had instead patted his head in a show of closeness.
‘A young life that does not fear me.’
He could not tell whether it was courage or simply boundless gentleness.
Only the Imugi, unaware of the circumstances, tilted his head in confusion while slowly waving his tail.
‘Is it my imagination? He definitely gave off hostile energy. Should I test him once more?’
Very well. Having made up his mind, the Imugi smiled brightly and flew toward Perdikion.
Then he thoroughly tousled the red hair.
“Kyu-ka!”
‘It’s difficult to spit on a smiling face. But if there is malice, anything done will appear unpleasant. Seeing through hidden ill will is not hard for me.’
He swallowed a sinister laugh inwardly and turned the soft red locks into a complete bird’s nest.
“Th-that…!”
Pop!
Perdikion seized the Imugi’s plump hand and yanked his head back.
Though he clenched his teeth and furrowed his brow—looking angry at first glance—the Imugi saw clearly.
‘What? Far from malice, he’s being shy.’
It was certain.
Earlobes reddened like the color of his hair, accompanied by obvious embarrassment.
Eyes that seemed to glare while biting down hard.
It might appear fierce at a glance, but he was simply clumsy at expressing emotion.
‘He’s just a guy who can’t be honest with his own feelings. But why?’
No matter how young a hatchling he might be, having lived so long, he ought to be capable of expressing himself honestly.
Having grasped the other’s nature, the Imugi decided he would need to change his approach.
‘…Now that I think about it, there is one possibility that comes to mind. I’m not sure if it’s correct, though.’
Confirmation could wait until he asked Christina later. The Imugi obediently withdrew his hand.
Only then did Perdikion speak.
“You… wouldn’t know because you’re young, but this isn’t something you’re supposed to do to me.”
“Kyu?”
The Imugi tilted his head, pretending ignorance.
He wanted to learn more, but since this was a guest Christina had summoned, any further impulsive behavior would be rude to her, so he restrained himself.
However, Perdikion looked at him with displeased eyes and added,
“Lady Christina. Would it be all right if I tried hugging this fellow?”
“It should be fine. After all, this child reached out first.”
Christina gave a light nod of approval.
‘What is he thinking, doing this now?’
It felt incredibly awkward.
Still, it wasn’t to the point of refusal.
‘There’s no need to reject him and make things uncomfortable.’
Though it was embarrassing, the other was someone close to Christina.
There was no need to cheer, but he was willing to play along to a reasonable degree.
‘Fine. Being held like a real baby would be too much, so I’ll just offer my hand.’
“Kyu-uu.”
When the Imugi subtly extended his hand, Perdikion spread both arms as if to embrace him, then grasped only the offered hand with one of his own.
‘Yes. Be satisfied with that.’
Perdikion, holding the small hatchling’s hand, wore a strangely complex expression as he shook it gently up and down.
‘How should I describe it… It feels like watching something fascinating.’
Thinking there was nothing particularly novel about it, the Imugi tried to withdraw his hand, only to catch a flash of regret on Perdikion’s face.
Yet the Imugi pulled away without hesitation.
Flap, flap.
Shaking his small wings, he flew closer to Perdikion.
Perdikion had returned to a stiff, businesslike expression.
“He really is tiny.”
“You were the same once. You were a little larger than this child, though.”
“Hmm. It’s hard to imagine.”
“It was a long time ago, so that’s understandable. I didn’t see you as a child often, but I do remember that you were very cute.”
It was then.
Growl.
A hungry rumble sounded from the Imugi’s stomach.
Among the three who suddenly fell silent, the Imugi moved first.
He placed a hand on his belly and rubbed it with a starved expression.
“Kyu-uuu.”
‘I still needed more mana recovery, so it can’t be helped.’
He had sensed something was lacking, but he hadn’t expected his stomach to send such a loud physical signal. It was rather embarrassing.
‘Even so. After eating that much, I’m still this hungry.’
Christina watched the Imugi droop his shoulders while rubbing his stomach, then smiled gently.
“You two play for a while. I’ll bring something to eat.”
“Yes. That would be good.”
Perdikion replied with composed maturity.
Christina used movement magic to transport Perdikion, the Imugi, and the young bird to the room with the cradle before stepping outside.
Once the two were alone, Perdikion cleared his throat loudly.
“Hey.”
“Kyu-uuu?”
‘Calling me “hey” right away?’
Perdikion suddenly grabbed the Imugi’s cheek and began fiddling with it.
“Piiyaaak!”
While the Imugi was still stunned by the abrupt change in attitude, the white chick, startled, climbed onto Perdikion’s head and pecked at him.
“Move aside. How insolent.”
Paying it no mind, Perdikion swatted the bird away roughly with one hand, then used both hands to squeeze the Imugi’s soft, fluffy cheeks.
“Kyu-uu. Kyuuk.”
‘Let go, you bastard.’
As the Imugi struggled, Perdikion muttered in a low voice.
“So this is the younger brother I’ll have to guide from now on?”
‘Younger brother my scales. And “guide”?’
Treating a young creature this way. Realizing the behavior in front of Christina had been an act, the Imugi’s eyes sharpened.
Moreover, having received Christina’s knowledge through her transmission, he doubted whether Perdikion had anything to teach him at all.
Unaware of this, Perdikion released the cheek with a flick and spoke in an overbearing tone.
“Just trust me and follow my lead. I have no intention of going easy on you just because you’re young, so don’t even think about slacking off.”
“Kyu-uuu.”
The Imugi’s scales rose with disbelief at the dissatisfied expression on his face.
The white baby bird, sensing his mood, stiffened the black feather on its crown and thrust its rear out aggressively.
“Piiyaaak!”
The white chick glared as though ready to charge and peck at any moment.
Perdikion met the bird’s eyes and growled lowly.
“Do not act insolent toward the one who will become the master of fire.”
In Perdikion’s eyes as he stared at the bird, hostility flared alongside rising crimson flames.