The Grown-Up Toltoli (1)

Even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, it was unmistakably Toltoli.

Dialuria had come along too, standing there in a daze as she looked around the area, but naturally my attention kept drifting back to Toltoli.

The last time I’d seen him, I was sure he’d been about the size of a puppy.

Now that he’d grown into something the size of a large tiger, I was so stunned my jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

At this point, he didn’t look cute anymore. He looked dangerous.

He was sniffing here and there, clearly fascinated by the unfamiliar scents around him, and then, in an instant, his gaze snapped toward me.

I started worrying that maybe I should’ve worn armor after all, because there was an emotion in those eyes I couldn’t begin to describe.

“Kyaaaaaaaaargh!”

After letting out a monstrous shriek, he started nodding furiously and drooling all over himself.

For some reason, that drool made me uneasy.

He had done that sort of thing occasionally even when he was little, of course, but I couldn’t help wondering if he was looking at me as food.

His tail, always wagging like a propeller, suddenly seemed alarmingly threatening.

He looked so excited, and of course it made sense that I’d want to avoid just standing there and abandoning a child I hadn’t seen in ages.

Dialuria was probably irritated that she hadn’t been able to watch Toltoli grow, so she seemed a little sulky too.

The best thing to do here was welcome him warmly.

“Ah… Toltol…”

The moment I softly called his name, the sight of him charging straight at me was something else.

“Huff! Huff!”

What’s wrong with him?

“Kyaaaaaaaargh!”

He was faster on four legs than I’d expected.

Before I’d even had time to think about how I was supposed to catch him, he crashed into me. The impact was so heavy that my body was naturally driven straight into the ground.

“Kyek! Huff! Kyaaaaargh! Huff!”

It hurt, but only for a moment.

When I saw tears welling up in those huge eyes, I suddenly felt sorry for him.

“Kyaaaaaaaargh! Huff! Huff!”

The giant tears streaming down his face were ridiculous. And yet he was still wagging his tail like a propeller, so yes—this was definitely Toltoli.

“Oh my goodness!”

“Kyaaaaargh!”

“Oh my goodness! Has our Toltoli been doing well all this time?”

“Huff! Huff!”

He started licking me all over with his tongue, sniffing frantically at every inch of me.

I couldn’t lift him in my arms the way I used to, but I hugged him tightly anyway and stroked him here and there.

“Good boy! Good boy! Good boy!”

“Kyek! Huff! Kyek! Huff! Kyek! Huff!”

The way he bounced around in time with my clapping was exactly the same as before.

He’s adorable.

Even now, he was staring at me with that look he got when he wanted me to pick him up and fly him around, but there was no way I could lift him with my bare hands.

That was when I noticed Dialuria slowly walking toward us.

“He’s grown too fast all of a sudden.”

“You don’t really notice how much they’ve grown when you’re always with them. This really does make it clear how neglectful you’ve been toward our Dialuria.”

“I’ve just been busy. Originally I did think I should come home at least once, but… things haven’t exactly been going smoothly. I do have to work hard for the sake of the nest. I’m the one who sends Toltoli his food every time, aren’t I? If you keep blaming me like this, I’ll be a little hurt.”

“That alone doesn’t mean you’ve fulfilled your duties as a father. Being there beside her is what matters more. Think about how lonely Dialuria has been. She missed you so much she’d cry her eyes out. Are you all right, Dialuria?”

“Kyaaaaaaaargh!”

“She isn’t yelling at her father, Dialuria. We’re just talking for a moment. We’re not fighting. My lovely daughter.”

“Kyek!”

“I’m not asking for you to stay attached to her every single day, but at least once a week—no, once every three days—should be reasonable. And from now on I’ll start teaching her how to hunt little by little, but… even if you can’t come on the other days, you must be there for that one. That will be Dialuria’s first hunt. It’ll help if her father is there to watch.”

“Ah… yes, of course. If there’s going to be a day like that, it would be better if you told me in advance….”

“I’m telling you right now.”

It was understandable that she’d be a little displeased.

Toltoli’s face was still wet with tears, and even I thought it was heartbreaking.

If I thought about the amount of time that had actually passed, it hadn’t really been all that long, but there was obviously a difference between how I felt it and how he felt it.

While his tongue kept licking my cheek, I could only think one thing.

This is a matter of survival.

“Will he grow even bigger than this?”

“No. He’ll stay around this size for a few months. Of course he’ll keep growing little by little, but he still has a long way to go before he gets any bigger.”

“Ahhh….”

If he got any bigger than this, I might genuinely start feeling threatened for my life.

“He’ll become a little difficult to handle.”

“He’ll also learn how to change form, and how to speak.”

“Ah! Like you?”

“Of course. It usually takes a while, but… ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠our Dialuria is very clever.”

It seemed the belief that one’s own child would be clever was the same everywhere.

I figured I shouldn’t keep rolling around on the floor forever, so I slowly pushed myself up—but even then, Toltoli was still trying to leap onto me.

Ugh….

Of course, there was no way he could climb up easily.

He’s heavy.

My strength stats had gone up a lot over time, so I was definitely stronger than an average adult man, but even so, supporting this much weight wasn’t easy.

And yet Toltoli showed no sign of wanting to give up.

In the end, he ended up practically hanging off me.

His hind legs and tail were wrapped around my waist, his front legs were hooked over my chest and left shoulder, and with his right shoulder he kept pressing his face against me, barking out a constant stream of kyek-kyek sounds.

“Want to come with me today, Toltoli?”

“Huff! Huff!”

At this point, the reality was that I’d have to start controlling my mana too.

Only then did things become a little more manageable.

It was right then that I heard a voice from outside.

“Is that Dialuria? No, wait—is it Toltoli? Darling?”

It was Cha Heera’s voice.

“Kyaaaaaaaargh!”

For some reason, Toltoli let out a roar when he saw her red hair.

It was a little different from his usual cry.

This wasn’t a happy sound. It was close enough to hostility that I could feel it.

What’s wrong with him?

“Kyaaaaaaaargh! Kyaek!”

“He’s so cute! Toltoli, so you really were chosen by the dragon. I could tell just from seeing the nest in Lindel, but seeing you like this makes it feel even more real.”

But the closer she came, the more he lowered his gaze.

Instinctively, he seemed to realize the woman in front of him was dangerous.

That kind of sharp instinct was definitely like me.

Of course, I hadn’t contributed anything to Toltoli’s genes, but still, I found myself thinking that.

“He’s really adorable. Look at him lowering his head. Toltoli’s all droopy, darling.”

It was only natural he’d react like that with her hand reaching out right in front of him.

That was when Dialuria stepped in and blocked the hand trying to pet Toltoli.

“Has he gotten scared? Please step back.”

“Ah….”

Cha Heera studied Dialuria from top to bottom, then fixed her gaze briefly on the horns before speaking.

“Ah. You’re… Dialuria?”

“Yes. And you are?”

“You can call me Cha Heera. I didn’t know he was scared, though…. My mistake. I’m sorry, Toltoli. And I’m sorry to you too, Dialuria.”

“N-no…. I was just a little overreactive….”

Cha Heera’s behavior was a little unexpected.

She kept glancing at Toltoli, which made it seem she secretly liked cute things.

Of course, Toltoli had grown too much to be called cute in the simple sense anymore, but the fact that she was trying to treat him gently was oddly unfamiliar.

Does she like children?

Even the fact that she immediately apologized after Dialuria spoke made me think that. It might have been a little rude to say, but it felt like watching a gorilla tenderly handling a baby.

The fact that she apologized to Dialuria without hesitation suggested that, woman or not, Cha Heera was still a woman.

In fact, the one who had been throwing out sharp reactions was now the one who looked flustered—Dialuria.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, but… it’s nice to finally meet you. Mind if I call you by your first name?”

“I don’t mind, but….”

For some reason, I had the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠feeling these two might get along very well.

“You’re heading to the training grounds now, right?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“Dialuria? Why don’t we take a little break?”

“Huh? But… I have to look after the child….”

“It’ll be fine for a short while. Our darling will take good care ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of her. His workplace is close to here too, and if anything happens he can rush over right away. I think a little rest would do you good.”

“But….”

“Let’s have some tea and talk for a while. You really do look like you need a break.”

That part was probably true.

Dialuria kept saying she couldn’t, but deep down she seemed like she wanted to rest.

Whether it was my imagination or not, there were dark circles under her eyes, and her usually smooth skin and hair looked dry and tired.

Even the long horn jutting up from her head seemed a little dull in color.

Was she exhausted?

Of course she would be. Even with a stamina stat over 100….

Childrearing is childrearing.

He was clingy and calm right now, hanging quietly off my back, but if Toltoli ever started going wild, I had no doubt he’d be incredibly hard to stop.

Raising a human was hard enough. Raising him probably wasn’t any easier.

It was only natural that guilt would start creeping up on me, and I had no choice but to speak.

“You should rest a little, Dialuria. I think it’d be better if I took care of him today.”

Only then did she seem to relax a little.

Her gaze lingered on Dialuria for a moment, but in the end she gave a small nod.

“Then I’ll leave him to you.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

“Toltoli will stay with Papa and me today, all right?”

“Kyek! Huff! Huff!”

“But if you don’t behave yourself, I’ll send you back home. You have to stay quiet.”

“Kyaaaaargh!”

He clearly understood what was being said, because he nodded furiously again and again.

Dialuria’s expression brightened a little more too.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Yes.”

Nothing should happen.

After all, most of the trainees already knew I was slated to join the Empire’s Eight Seats.

And that I was the one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠chosen by a dragon.

There were probably a few trainees who still doubted whether it was true, but I expected I’d draw even more attention than usual today.

They did use monsters for practical combat training, but this would be the first time most of them had seen a Legendary-grade monster.

Even if he’s still a hatchling….

Toltoli’s specs were no joke.

It still hasn’t shown a disposition.

Endurance: 41. Mana: 40.

To put it bluntly, even if the assault team all charged Toltoli at once, there was no way to confidently predict the outcome.

Of course, Toltoli still couldn’t properly control his mana or body, so he wasn’t able to fight yet, but instinct was still instinct, and I could tell Toltoli had the advantage.

The graduation ceremony is only three days away, too….

Once things here were more or less sorted out, I felt like I’d need to pay more attention to Toltoli.

Yoo Ahyoung also seems to be almost finished….

From the fact that she’d been spending time with Kim Gichul again lately, it looked like she wanted to hit him where it hurt.

I’d let her do whatever she wanted, but I hadn’t expected her to be capable of laying a trap like this.

Apparently, there had been more to her than her easygoing, relaxed personality suggested.

As I entered the training grounds while thinking about all that, I could feel eyes on me from all directions, just as expected.

And naturally, the whispers started too.

“Is that… a dragon?”

“For real?”

“Whoa… so it was true after all. Guess only the people who are meant to make it, make it, even here. Am I never going to get chosen by anything?”

“You’d probably only get picked by a goblin, if that.”

That sort of thing.

But what was a little strange amid all that was….

What’s wrong with him?

The state of Toltoli, who was hanging calmly off my back.

If a male trainee passed by nearby, there wasn’t much of a problem.

What is it?

But when a female trainee walked past, he’d start foaming at the mouth and growling like crazy.

“Kyaaaaaaaargh!”

He even bared his teeth openly as if warning them not to come any closer, which made me wonder if there was something seriously wrong with him.

He kept scanning the surroundings as though checking to see whether anyone was approaching.

It was absurd, but that kind of look was strangely familiar.

Jung Hayan?

Toltoli was showing the same behavior Jung Hayan always did.

No way.

I activated Mind’s Eye, just in case.

“Kyaaaaaaaarghhhhhhh!”

“M-mad….”

I realized one step ahead of time that Dialuria had failed at childrearing.

---