Quite the Charisma
“Everyone, we're hooome!”
“Cheep, tweet!”
With Heungmi's cheerful greeting and Baekya's chirp marking the end, Perdikion began his teleportation chant.
The faint embers and sulfur scent faded away, replaced by a clear, refreshing coolness.
Soft sunlight and a subtle herb aroma.
Rich golden light flowed abundantly, a healing aura enveloping the entire lair.
Rune felt the familiar air and smiled faintly.
It's been a while.
As the teleportation light vanished, the sight of the familiar landscape upon arrival filled him with an odd sense of stability.
A clear blue gaze welcomed them with a gentle smile, right on cue.
“Welcome back, dears. You've all worked so hard.”
“We're home, Christina.”
Christina greeted Rune on his first return home.
She's come to meet us.
Rune let out a soft chuckle.
The light's nest felt even warmer and more welcoming after so long.
“Rai. You been well?”
The orb of light flickered two or three times in response.
Then it floated over silently, circling once around Baekya and Heungmi each.
“Eee! Rai!”
Heungmi laughed merrily in greeting, while Baekya prodded the light with its beak.
Meanwhile, Perdikion exchanged greetings with Christina.
“Have you been well in our absence?”
“Yes. Thank you for looking after Rune so well.”
Rune knew Perdikion had been sending regular updates to Christina.
It was only natural, as the lord of the fire lair entrusted with a hatchling.
I checked in often too, but he must've been extra diligent.
Christina wrapped up her greeting with heartfelt thanks for that very care.
Then she drew everyone's attention.
“Now, no more standing around—let's head to the meal.”
“Sounds good.”
Baekya and Heungmi trailed naturally after Rune's reply, while the dwarves—stunned speechless before the Gold Dragon Elder herself—followed Perdikion's lead.
Only later did they bow in a fluster, apologizing for the delayed courtesy, but Christina merely nodded gracefully, unperturbed.
A mere dwarf facing a Gold Dragon Elder?
Their minds had frozen solid, as anyone would expect.
She accepted the dwarves' belated bows with elegant poise, then cast a wordless teleportation spell.
The dwarves, unused to magic, reeled as the scenery shifted abruptly before their eyes.
Before they could even compose themselves, they beheld the lavish banquet spread across the long reception table.
Eyes bulged, mouths gaped wide.
A subtle mana glow enveloped every dish.
Butter-drenched croissants baked to flaky perfection, a whole smoked pork barbecue.
A massive pot of meat stew, served pot and all.
Jars of bold spices at every place setting.
Large platters piled high with fried potatoes and vegetables.
Compared to Christina's usual fare... quite the lavish spread.
It was undoubtedly tailored to dwarves accustomed to hearty textures.
Rye bread and baguettes, bottles of fresh milk.
No beer, alas—but fine, well-aged grape wine to quench the thirst.
Gulp.
One dwarf swallowed thickly.
Rune gazed at the bountiful table, a rare sight after so long.
As expected, the generosity here is unmatched.
And right before him sat a full bottle infused with fruit.
Could it be...?
Rune grasped the bottle and gave it a gentle shake.
The faint aroma teasing his nostrils evoked fruit wine.
For real...?
Perhaps the dwarves' culture had softened her stance on spirits!
Rune's hopes crept upward slyly.
“You've all worked hard. This is my welcome feast—eat your fill.”
“Thank you!”
“We'll dig in!”
“Cheep!”
At Christina's words, greetings rang out amid a flurry of eager hands.
Rune licked his lips and poured the grape-hued drink into his cup.
...!
It slid refreshingly down his throat with a crisp pop!
Rich, sweet fruit flavor burst forth.
The bold sweetness and clean finish kept pulling him back for more.
Clink.
Moments later, Rune stared wistfully at his empty glass.
This is just fruit juice!
Fruit sangria, not a drop of alcohol in sight.
The fool of a drinker repeats his folly.
He'd known better, yet clung to that sliver of hope.
Alcohol remained a distant dream for him still.
Setting aside that minor letdown, the meal was superb.
The dwarves stuffed themselves to bursting—then pushed beyond, driven by greed for this once-in-a-lifetime feast.
In truth, dining in Christina's lair was a first and final honor for them.
“Hehe. Who'd have thought I'd one day help dwarves settle in the human world?”
Christina tilted her wine glass with elegant curiosity.
The reformist dwarves who'd followed Jed planned to establish themselves in the human realm.
Christina—who knew it well and could offer real aid—had just agreed to assist.
Thanks to her, their relocation was proceeding like clockwork.
Suddenly, a fine idea struck Rune.
“Christina, I wanna go to the human world too.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Her question was fair.
A ten-year-old hatchling was far too young for human-world jaunts.
Rune knew approval was a long shot, but no risk, no reward.
The human world brims with info, dungeons, races. Beings thrive leveraging strengths and flaws in that vast ecosystem. I need to witness it.
Even better if other dungeons were involved.
“My vassals are venturing into the human world for the first time. Can't have their lord just spectate from afar.”
Christina smiled softly at his fervent words.
“How admirable. Your resolve rivals any dragon's.”
Gentle praise—but Rune caught the unyielding edge and tsked inwardly.
Strikeout.
Sure enough, Christina's expression firmed as she refused outright.
“Even so, that's one thing I can't grant, no matter your words. You're sharp—you know why.”
Generous she might be, but on absolutes, the dragon brooked no compromise.
Even Perdikion's lair visits had been a major concession.
Tch. What a shame.
He'd anticipated rejection from the praising opener, and here it was.
Yet his words rippled in an unexpected direction.
“Rune-nim! Sniff, don't worry. I'll ensure you can visit anytime in perfect safety!”
“?”
Turning to Jed, Rune found his eyes glittering with emotion.
...Why are you...?
Jed wasn't alone.
The reformist dwarves beside him stared at Rune with eyes brimming respect.
“We'll give it everything too!”
Another bowed deeply.
“When we heard of a dragon who truly cared for dwarves, frankly... we didn't fully believe it. This wretched dwarf has misunderstood you greatly until now.”
No theatrics—he repented from the heart.
“Truly, truly sorry!”
“Sorry—and we revere you!”
“Us too!”
“......”
Jed and the three dwarves looked ready to drop to their knees.
As Rune stared, speechless for a retort, Perdikion nodded approvingly.
“As expected of my little brother. Such depth of heart. Caring for vassals always reaps rewards. Splendid.”
“......”
Finally grasping the situation, Rune watched them a beat longer before adding one word.
“......I'll expect great things.”
“Wooo! Reformist dwarves, let's charge!”
“Woooo!”
“Our vanguard, blessed by draconic faith—nothing's impossible!”
“Wooooo!”
“Forward! Greatest blacksmiths of the continent!”
The dwarves ignited with fervor, vying to pledge loyalty and ambitions to Rune.
Rune never let on it was merely his selfish itch to visit the human world.
Deep in the ocean abyss.
Amelia gripped her spear, drilling slashes and thrusts in relentless training.
Ugh...!
Pain surges that were nearly unbearable at moments.
But she no longer crumpled in agony like before.
I... I can do this.
Amelia clenched her spear tight, waiting out the ache.
“Kyuu.”
At the spot with Snowball and the yellow mana stone.
The black hatchling—Rune—appeared alongside the white bird.
Rune met Amelia's eyes, then directed Baekya deeper into the passage as sentry.
To alert if Christina or anyone approached.
...Sit.
Okay.
The hatchling had already sensed her state and settled in.
Mermaid-like, she smiled faintly and coiled her tail to sit.
Do the breathing I taught you.
Y-Yes.
Slow, steadying breaths. Calm rhythm.
Tiny bubbles escaped her mouth at even intervals.
Rune fully absorbed the dark fragments shattering faintly from her exhalations.
Amelia's face finally eased into comfort, a slight smile forming.
...N-Now... it's... okay.
Good.
To reclaim her strength swiftly, he'd visited daily for lessons—over a month now.
The abyss's pressure suited his own endurance training perfectly, so teaching her doubled as top-tier practice for him.
T-Thank you.
Before shifting to free practice, Amelia bowed her head deeply.
Rune nodded as routine, but she fidgeted her hands and continued.
Truth is... it hurt so much, so exhausting... I couldn't bear it. Wondered if... being born was a mistake? Felt like... maybe my fault... that I'm lacking...]
......
Didn't know what to do... so lost... even if I vanished here, no one would notice.
......
I-I'm... so worthless.
Seeing tears well in Amelia's eyes, Rune tsked inwardly.
The thought of whether she even deserved to live.
Far too cruel a burden for a young hatchling to bear alone.
...Must've been hell. I can't claim to fully grasp your plight. But still.
No matter how he imagined it, he was an outsider.
He couldn't spout empty assurances of total understanding.
Half-baked empathy offered no solace.
Plop.
Rune placed a forepaw atop her watery head and stroked gently.
You've endured this far. You've done plenty well.