The Contract with the Crimson Lotus Dragon

"Master, are you able to speak the language of dragons?"

‘Her’ voice was low and soft. Yet, beneath that gentle tone lay a heavy, burning pressure, like the heart of a flame.

"……Huh?"

"You just spoke it to me."

"I, I did?"

"You told me not to come closer."

My jaw dropped in a daze. Wasn't that just Korean? But she insisted on calling it the 'Dragon Language.'

"I was just talking normally, though?"

"Just... talking?"

The Crimson Lotus Dragon narrowed her glowing red eyes and tilted her head. But soon, she seemed to accept it, offering a small, knowing smile.

"It is an honor to meet you, Master."

Her red hair fluttered like dancing flames.

"And to think you are a user of the Dragon Language. This maiden is overjoyed beyond words."

The next moment, she bowed deeply before me. Instantly, a status window popped up as if it had been waiting.

"……."

I blinked, stunned. I re-read the condition on the screen.

"……What?"

At first, I thought I’d misread it, blinded by her dizzying beauty. But no. The text hadn't changed by a single letter. A kiss! And a deep one at that!

"Wow!"

A kiss with a red-haired goddess. I felt like bowing down to the system window in gratitude.

Suddenly, I felt a gaze. I turned my head. Cardia was peeking at me. Her pale face was already flushed bright red, and her red eyes were trembling with anxiety.

"……."

‘Is she really a Calamity-class beast?’

Right now, she looked like a girl on the verge of a confession, completely tense. The sight was so unexpected that I almost burst out laughing.

Cardia flinched when she saw my smile.

"Ma, Master. Th-that smile?"

"No," I replied with a chuckle. "It’s just... you’re cuter than I thought."

Suddenly—Whoosh! Steam erupted from Cardia’s bright red face.

"Cu, cute?!"

The air around us heated up in an instant. Tiny sparks flickered from the tips of her red hair. Instinctively sensing a threat to my life, I scrambled backward. The floor where I had been standing just a moment ago was melting away mercilessly.

Cardia quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

"I, I’m sorry! Such a mistake……!"

"It’s okay. It’s fine, so just calm down."

It was true that a Calamity-class dragon had a cute side, but this was dangerous. I approached her slowly and said, "So, shall ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we proceed with the 'contract'?"

"……!"

My heart hammered like crazy. This being, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shyly bowing her head before me, was breathtakingly beautiful. It was a level of beauty that transcended human standards. Those burning red eyes. The long, smooth red hair. And the closer I got, the more destructive the presence of her chest became. My gaze kept drifting downward as if pulled by a magnet. Those overflowing, voluptuous breasts were right there.

‘This is insane!’

It was to the point where I could actually feel the physical pressure. Seeing me approach, Cardia swallowed hard. Gulp! Her red eyes wavered softly.

"Um, excuse me."

"Yes?"

"Are we... really doing this?"

Cardia’s red eyes flashed with a strange light. And then, as if she had been waiting, she opened her arms wide.

"……!"

The next moment—Flump! She threw herself into my arms.

"Whoa?!"

I was engulfed by a sensation of incredible elasticity and softness, feeling as if my whole body were melting. I barely managed to regain my senses, only to find Cardia’s face, no larger than my fist, right before mine. Her long eyelashes were trembling. Her cheeks were flushed red. And her luscious, slightly quivering lips. Looking up at me, she whispered softly.

"The contract…… finally with you, Master!"

The next moment, she pressed her hot lips against mine. A moist, soft sensation permeated my entire being. Joy. Excitement. Relief. I felt every single one of those emotions.

After the long kiss, I asked her, "……Cardia."

"Yes."

"May I ask why you’re so happy?"

She blinked for a moment, then answered as if I’d asked the most obvious question in the world.

"For a dragon, there is only one Master in a lifetime."

"Only one?"

"It is the being with whom we spend our entire lives."

"……?!"

"The moment the contract is completed, this maiden becomes yours forever."

She carefully placed her hand on my chest and added, "And you, Master, are the only one who can handle me 'as you please.' I am so incredibly happy to serve by your side."

Thump. My heart began to race. Her red eyes, still resting on my chest, curved into crescents.

"I can hear your heart beating, Master."

"Isn't that just because you have your hand on it?"

"No," Cardia replied with a soft laugh. "It is because my heart is now linked to yours."

Before long, her breathing began to grow ragged. I was startled and tried to pull away, but Cardia didn't miss the chance, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck.

"Ngh……!"

And then, her lips met mine once more. This time, much deeper. Cardia’s hot tongue danced with mine, swirling in a dizzying rhythm. At the same time, a surge of scorching mana flooded into my body. It felt as if liquid fire were flowing through my veins.

"Ugh……!"

It wasn't painful. If anything, the warmth spreading through me was so comfortable I nearly lost my mind. Finally, Cardia slowly pulled her lips away. Her burning red eyes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gazed at me lovingly.

"……From now on, I shall serve you for the rest of my life, Master."

Ding!

"Authority Sharing with the Crimson Lotus Dragon?"

The status window provided an explanation.

"Physical collapse sounds a bit scary, doesn't it?"

"It is fine," Cardia replied nonchalantly. "I will protect you so that you never have to use your authority, Master."

I was left speechless by how naturally she said such an outrageous thing. The next moment, Cardia slid over and hugged my arm. The sensation of her soft, ample breasts pressed against me. The way she rubbed her head against my shoulder with a happy expression made her look exactly like a pet cat.

When she met my eyes, she widened her red eyes and hurriedly made an excuse.

"I, I just like being close to you, Master."

I let out a snort and asked, "Is it that good?"

Cardia blushed shyly and answered, "……Yes."

After a moment of hesitation, she added, "And there is one more thing I like."

"What's that?"

"Your body temperature, Master. It is so warm."

She leaned her head against my shoulder, letting out a happy laugh. ‘Is she really a Calamity-class dragon?’

That was when it happened.

Grrrrrrrrrrr.

A low, rough growl echoed from across the ruined city. Between the collapsed buildings, dark red shadows began to emerge. Beast-type monsters with red fur, black fangs jutting out like needles, and blood-colored eyes. Blood Hounds. There were nearly a hundred of them.

The system window displayed the monster's information.

"Wait a minute! That’s……."

Blood Hounds. Even as an E-class hunter, I knew them well. They were high-level monsters that only appeared from the 30th floor ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠onward. A pack of such monsters appearing on the 1st floor of the Tower?

"This is impossible."

My legs felt like they were about to give out. The red eyes of the beasts, having spotted us, were filled with murderous intent. In the real world, this would be a level that would trigger an immediate emergency disaster alert from the Association. But the moment I glanced at Cardia, I lost my words again.

Cardia…… she had an utterly indifferent expression. If anything, her red eyes were sparkling as she looked only at me. If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging back and forth.

"……What are you doing?"

"I am waiting."

"For what?"

Cardia answered as if it were obvious. "For your first command, Master."

She folded her hands politely and added, "Please, give me your command."

Cardia’s red eyes flashed with a dangerous light. "I shall strike down that wretched pack that dares to disturb your rest in a single blow."