Not Calling Me the Dragon Slayer?
Princess Kailian feigned a scowl but melted into the warmest hug imaginable, pulling me flush against her chest.
“Kyuuung…”
A little gentler, please. I just had my fur brushed this morning.
I buried my snout in the soft valley of her chest, giving her shirt a couple of happy tail thumps. Then her gaze drifted past me to the Nine-Tailed Fox standing awkwardly behind us.
“So… how exactly did a sacred beast like you end up with our little Blanc?”
“That… I was dying in the mountains. He saved me.”
“Our little Blanc?”
Kailian’s silver brows lifted as she looked down at me.
“Kyuuung.”
You were about to die, so I helped a bit.
I puffed my chest, thumping my paw against it in proud little gestures. Kailian snorted a laugh, but her sharp red eyes never left the fox.
“After all that nine-tail fluff, what kind of monster was it that nearly killed you? Ordinary beasts in these mountains wouldn’t even scratch you.”
The reminder seemed to hit Gumiho hard. Her face drained of color as the memory of being attacked flashed across her features.
*Yeah, butlers are really lacking in compassion—only know how to poke at the weak points.*
“I… I couldn’t even touch it. It was on a completely different level of energy. I think it’s still roaming somewhere in these mountains. We need to leave this place quickly.”
“Some nameless monster?”
Kailian’s brows drew together at the sight of the trembling fox.
She stroked her chin, thinking for a moment, then nodded with sudden resolve.
“I see. If it’s dangerous enough to bring you to death’s door, we can’t risk it. After all, we’re just here on vacation.”
“Kyuuung.”
Yeah, let’s get down fast. Lina’s all alone up there. Not that I’m too worried…
“Let’s meet up with Lina first, then descend toward the knights at the mountain entrance.”
I gave a tiny, obedient nod from Kailian’s arms.
“Kyuu.”
Let’s go, already.
When I stopped wriggling and burrowed deeper, clinging like a koala, Kailian poked my nose with a look of pure exasperation.
“Ugh. Only when it suits you, huh? Too lazy to walk so you want me to carry you?”
“Kyuuung.”
Busted. Still gonna hug me, though. I trained hard today.
Kailian read my thoughts perfectly. She stroked my ear with feather-light fingers and held me tighter.
*Sigh, only get fattier on pork and I’ll die from the weight… but I can’t help it. You’re just too adorable.*
In the warm, soft embrace of the butler’s arms, I wagged my tail happily. I flicked the tip at Gumiho behind us.
Don’t just stand there staring—let’s go already.
The fox smiled awkwardly and hurried to follow.
We cut across the forest at a rapid clip, heading for the midway point where Lina waited.
“Your Highness! Master Blanc! You’re safe!”
Lina stood beside the mountain of orc corpses she’d personally slain, flashing a bright smile.
*Seriously… I can never get used to this.*
“Lina, things have changed. We need to hurry.”
Kailian scanned the surroundings, then approached her.
“There’s a massive magical beast in these mountains. Let’s abandon the hunt and descend toward the entrance where the knights are.”
“Wha— a massive one?!”
Lina tilted her head, then noticed Gumiho standing behind Kailian.
*Hang in there, Gumiho.*
“Hmm…”
Lina’s eyes swept over the fox’s nine tails in the most blatant sidelong glance possible.
Gumiho startled and raised her tails straight up at the cold stare.
*I know that feeling too well.*
“A new companion has joined us… Understood, Your Highness. I’ll lead the way. Let’s move immediately.”
Lina smiled as if nothing had happened and started walking.
*That smile makes me even more uneasy…*
The three of us felt a flicker of worry bloom in our chests.
*Kyuu…*
Still, she wouldn’t suddenly pluck out the tails, right?
We picked up the pace, descending the mountain path.
The once-teeming forest had fallen into an eerie silence.
The butlers tensed, every step measured and cautious.
*Halt.*
Lina and Gumiho both stopped at the same moment.
Their faces froze instantly.
*It’s here.*
“Your Highness…”
“Uh… it’s coming.”
Kailian gripped the hilt of her sword and halted as well.
**KUWAWWWW!!!**
A thunderous sonic boom ripped overhead, tearing through the canopy. Massive trees collapsed like dominoes as an enormous shadow plummeted toward us.
**BOOM!**
Dust and wind slammed into us.
“Kyuuuung……!!!”
Crap… my fur just got brushed!
As the haze cleared, the beast Gumiho had warned about stood revealed: a colossal dragon, scales like polished obsidian, eyes glowing with feral hunger.
*Is that the one she meant?*
It looked strong.
“Krrooorrr…”
The black dragon lunged forward, baring razor-sharp teeth at us.
Gumiho’s face went deathly pale. She panted, eyes wide with terror.
Kailian studied the dragon, then spun toward the fox.
“Hey! You said there was a monster roaming the mountains! That’s not roaming—it just fell out of the sky!”
“I-I didn’t expect it to appear like this!”
Gumiho pouted in protest.
The butlers tensed, weapons ready, but I felt something completely different toward the dragon.
*Honestly, compared to Grandpa or Mom… I’m not sure it’s that powerful.*
I’d only ever fought overwhelmingly strong beings, so my standards were warped. This guy didn’t feel unbeatable.
“KUWAAAAAK!!!”
The dragon’s jaws split wide, preparing to unleash a searing torrent of breath from its throat. The air around us ignited.
“This is insane! Everyone, evacuate!”
Kailian shouted as I leapt free of her arms.
“Eh?! Blanc! Hey!”
I kicked off a platform of holy power and rocketed straight at the dragon’s face.
*This one’s mine.*
I widened my maw and poured every ounce of divine energy into it.
**PAAAAAHT!**
A torrent of pure white light exploded from my tiny jaws.
**KWAAAAAAAAAAANG!!!**
The dragon’s crimson breath and my holy beam collided head-on in midair.
The impact shattered the sky. The dragon’s breath was perfectly neutralized, dissipating into harmless sparks.
*Who said beams are the dragon’s privilege?*
“KUWAAAAAK!!”
The dragon recoiled, stunned that its signature attack had been blocked by something so small.
**THANG!**
I slammed through the smoke of the explosion, launched upward again, and drove my right paw straight into the dragon’s snout.
“Let’s see a dragon punch!”
If I took this down, I’d win the bet.
“Kyuu!”
**PAAAAAHT!**
My chubby paw cracked across the dragon’s jaw with pinpoint accuracy.
**KWAAAAAAAAANG!!!**
A mountain-rattling explosion boomed.
**KRRRAAAAK!**
Rocks and debris flew everywhere.
The dragon’s scales near its face shattered like glass, its jaw crumpling like wet paper. Several fangs exploded into the air.
*Those teeth are going to taste terrible.*
The massive body rocked, then toppled sideways. It crashed down, carving a crater in the earth.
For a moment it twitched, then went limp.
“Kyaaaaam.”
Pathetic.
I landed lightly on the ground and prodded the biggest, sharpest dragon tooth fragment with my paw. I beamed with satisfaction.
“Kyuuung.”
Mmm, yeah, dragon teeth really are top-tier. They pack a real punch. Kailian, I won, right?
Kailian, Lina, and Gumiho stood frozen, mouths agape, staring between the crumpled dragon and me.
*What are you people so shocked about?*
“Kyuu!”
Butlers! Bring the meat and the praise! It’s hero time for the Dragon Slayer!