Two Eggs (4)
Sure enough, they needed the funds.
But it was such a large sum that Owen hesitated to accept it outright, prompting Loton to press him again.
"Are you truly going to make me, Loton, out to be an ungrateful fool who can't even repay a life debt?"
"How can you say such a thing?"
"Due to my own failings, I've long tarnished my family's name and become the target of pointing fingers everywhere."
"……."
"If I step forward to offer repayment only to be rejected, I worry what those who love to badmouth me will say."
With that, even Owen found it hard to respond.
In the end, he had no choice but to accept.
"Very well. I gratefully accept, Loton."
As Owen agreed, Loton's face lit up, and he grabbed his hand.
"Thank you. At last, I can repay the debt of my life. Haha! Once your busy affairs are sorted, share a drink with me."
"No reason to refuse. Understood."
Owen couldn't help thinking he'd stumbled upon unexpected fortune.
'Who knew saving the bastard son of the Drun Count in the past would lead to this? Considering the odds, my pockets will burst.'
Of course, he planned to use the money to acquire a new dragon.
"Then I'll take my leave. You must be busy."
Loton bid Owen farewell and returned straight to his father, Drun Count.
Drun Count had been drinking heavily since midday. Spotting Loton, he asked bluntly,
"Did you deliver it well?"
"Yes, Father. I did exactly as you instructed."
"Good. Well done. Have a drink."
Drun filled Loton's cup with a kindly expression.
Curiously, the father-son bond seemed far warmer than the rumors suggested.
Typically, a bastard couldn't call his father "Father,"
yet here Loton addressed Drun Count as such and referred to himself as "your son."
It spoke of special recognition in their relationship.
But when Loton had been captured at the fortress before, Drun Count had refused the bandit knights' hostage ploy, declaring he could just sire another bastard.
Considering that, it was suspicious.
Moreover, several of Drun Count's favored retainers were present, and they treated the scene as perfectly natural.
No—they even showed subtle respect toward Loton, mere bastard though he was.
"Son, do you know why I deliberately sent you to deliver the gold?"
"Probably because if a major eastern figure like you bet on Sir Leire, it would cause a stir. Even now, people whisper if Sir Leire has some hidden ace. But if I place the bet, it looks like mere repayment of a debt."
"Exactly. And one more thing—personally, I want you to get close to Owen Leire. This gesture of goodwill should bring you nearer."
"Is that boy so remarkable?"
"When I saw His Grace yesterday, he immediately asked about the Leire family's son. He wanted details on his exploits at the fortress."
"His Grace is that interested…."
"The lad will surely take a major role under His Grace. Plenty of reason to stay close. And since his status isn't high yet, it's no issue for a bastard like you."
"I am truly grateful for your consideration, Father. I shall do as you wish."
https://booktoki469.com/data/file/novel/5895/41826/16549821861395.jpg
Time passed, and the grand assembly finally arrived.
Most of the East's notables gathered in Bris.
The whole city buzzed with excitement.
The assembly lasted two weeks: the first for meetings and dispute resolutions, the second a festival.
This year, a massive dragon tournament was planned during the festival.
They'd scaled back such events under the Emperor's watchful eye before, but not anymore.
The orc hordes to the east were now a greater worry than imperial pressure.
"It's about time," said Conrad, the administrative officer, inspecting the moldy egg. Owen nodded.
"It should hatch during the festival. It'll be a relief once it's over."
Owen sighed.
With Surpuk Duke hyping the event, every noble's attention was fixed on this bet—it was exhausting.
"Sir Leire!"
Bald John rushed up in a panic.
"What is it?"
"The egg's cracking right now. The egg!"
"What? Albert's?"
"Yes. Nobles are flocking there upon hearing the news. To see what hatches. You should hurry too, sir!"
"I suppose I should."
He knew the outcome, but curiosity was curiosity.
Owen summoned Grenville and ordered him to guard the moldy egg.
"Don't let anyone steal or break the egg. Got it?"
"Eung!"
Hearing Grenville's reply, Owen headed straight for the 2nd Dragon Stable.
Upon arrival, crowds swarmed the place.
To Owen, it seemed impossible for so many to fit into the hatching chamber.
Hatching chambers were kept small to maintain uniform temperature and humidity.
Larger ones were harder to control.
But Albert had prepared for this day.
He mounted the platform and shouted,
"I will now guide you to where the dragon egg is! The chamber's too small for everyone, so we've moved it to the auditorium. Let's all witness the miraculous hatching together!"
It was a clever move.
The egg was hatching anyway—no need to keep it confined to the chamber.
Albert aimed to bask in the crowd's acclaim at his triumph.
From the platform, watching the crowd move, he spotted Owen's shit-eating expression and nearly burst out laughing.
"Heh heh heh!"
Daring to challenge him with that moldy egg?
The man was incomprehensible.
'He's probably shitting bricks right about now.'
But Owen's grim face wasn't for that reason.
He was simply shocked the 2nd Dragon Stable had a separate auditorium.
'Damn it. We use the open yard for gatherings, and they have an auditorium? Unforgivable.'
Owen had considered a small mercy after his victory, but the auditorium killed that thought.
Bad news for Albert, who misunderstood and strutted over smugly.
"Well, if it isn't the esteemed manager of the 5th Dragon Stable."
"Sir Albert."
"Hahaha, come on in, Sir Leire."
Albert already saw his victory as fact.
No anomalies with the egg.
He'd obsessively tended it daily under the bet's pressure—like a mother dragon with her nest.
"When will that moldy, pathetic egg of yours hatch? Actually, no need to tell me. Everything ends today."
"Indeed it will."
"Our minds align for once. Given up?"
"Hardly."
"Tch. Can't be graceful to the end. Come on. The result's obvious, but if you insist on seeing it with your own eyes."
"You say exactly what I want to hear."
"What? Hahaha!"
Albert dismissed Owen's words as petty defiance and laughed it off.
He even offered Owen a prime spot—for his sake.
Meaning: stay and watch to the bitter end.
Owen had no reason to refuse.
He fully intended to.
The auditorium was packed around the dragon egg.
Nobles, retainers, even townsfolk who never visited the stables—rumor-chasers who'd bet among themselves.
The excited atmosphere dragged on.
Then someone shrieked,
"The egg! It's cracking!"
The chatter died instantly.
Droplets beaded on the egg's surface; cracks started from the top.
The crowd held their breath.
Pfuk!
A long hatchling snout burst through, shattering the shell.
"Ooooh!"
Admiration erupted.
Even Owen was stunned.
The snout was vivid orange.
A species even he, with vast experience, didn't recognize.
'Wasn't it supposed to be stillborn?'
The hatchling emerged vigorously, shattering the shell slowly.
No sign of stillbirth—Owen felt inwardly disconcerted.
At a glance, it looked extraordinary.
If it hatched normally, Owen would be in dire straits.
"What is…."
Tanares's power couldn't be wrong—what was happening?
The text floating over the egg hadn't changed.
'Then it should definitely be stillborn….'
Owen suppressed his anxiety.
Meanwhile, the hatchling's body emerged more, until the egg split lengthwise.
Craaack!
Suddenly, the contents spilled out.
Hatchling, torn membranes, yolk sac on the navel, fluids soaking the floor.
"Ooh! It's born!"
Cheers filled the air.
But reminded not to startle the newborn, they hushed quickly.
Mesmerized, they stared at the hatchling.
"Beautiful…."
Someone couldn't help but let out a murmur.
Owen had to agree.
Orange face with eyepatch-like markings.
Black body with vivid orange stripes.
Small, cute horns on the head.
Undoubtedly special.
"Ah…!"
"Incredible. Such a dragon."
All sighed in awe.
But the most dramatic was Albert, 2nd Dragon Stable manager.
He was lost in ecstasy at his achievement.
Biting his lip to stifle a scream.
"I was right… I was right!"
It had to be the red egg the orcs mentioned.
Albert swelled with pride at his discernment—nearly mad with it.
But his joy ended there.
"Kkeek?"
The newborn suddenly writhed, emitting a scream-like cry.
Murmurs rose.
The crowd's eyes widened in shock.
Even laymen could tell something was wrong.
The exterior was flawless.
Uncurled, it exceeded a meter.
No deformities in limbs or tail.
Yet it couldn't stand, toppling repeatedly.
Splut!
It even wheezed labored breaths.
"Hurry! Check it now!"
Albert shrieked at the breeders.
The waiting breeders rushed over.
"What the—?"
"Open its mouth. Problem's there if anywhere!"
"Aaaah! It bit me!"
One breeder bled, howling.
Albert ignored it, bellowing,
"Hurry! Fix it, you useless lot!"
He even kicked nearby breeders.
Half-mad with frenzy.
"Why! Why!"
He couldn't fathom the sudden affliction.
He'd seen many hatchings in his stable tenure.
Never one collapsing at birth.
"Wh-what?"
"It looks like it's dying?"
"Dies right after hatching?"
Onlookers were baffled.
The only one who knew was Owen.
Lung Respiration Dysfunction Due to Infection
Vivid text floated over the thrashing, gulping hatchling.
Suddenly, the beautiful creature collapsed limp.
"Nooo!"
Albert wailed desperately, seizing and shaking the fallen hatchling.
Fresh from the egg, its scales slick with fluids—his hands kept slipping.
Like his success.
The poor thing only twitched faintly.
Owen saw no need to linger and left.
"It's over."
The auditorium would erupt in chaos now.
Especially those who'd bet gold on Albert—they'd riot.
No need to see; it was obvious pandemonium.
Lost in thoughts on the way back, a voice called from behind.
"Wait."
"Hm?"
Turning, a beautiful knightess stood gazing at him.
High nose, slender face—a rare beauty.
Her clear green eyes were especially refreshing.
"What is it?"
"You know, don't you? Why that hatchling collapsed."
"Me?"
"Don't play dumb. I saw you click your tongue, like you knew something when it fell."
https://booktoki469.com/data/file/novel/5895/41826/16549821861401.jpg
https://booktoki469.com/data/file/novel/5895/41826/16549821861405.jpg