Dragon's Frozen Trophy and the Butler's Sweet Deal

I picked out the largest and sharpest piece of the dragon's broken tooth and clamped it between my teeth. Straight ahead I marched toward Kailian, my head held high.

This had to be the perfect prize.

**Thud.**

I dropped the enormous tooth the size of my own face right at Kailian's feet.

"Kyaaahng!" I thought. "Kyahwah!"

There, see that? I won the bet.

Pride swelled in my chest. I couldn't stop my hips from wiggling.

I couldn't hold back the teabag wiggle.

Later I was going to drag every kitchen staff here and open a snack buffet.

Kailian kept glancing between my adorable hip-wiggle on the floor and the distant, dust-plumed dragon.

Finally she let out a long, defeated sigh.

"Haaah… do I even praise this pig…?"

She let go of her sword handle, knelt down, and ruffled my silver hair with both hands.

"Yeah, you won. Eat it all up, you little pig… good job."

"Kyauuu… rrrgrr."

If you're going to praise me, just praise me! If I saved your life you owe me treats!

I closed my eyes and savored the winner's luxury while Kailian petted me fiercely.

Then something annoying tickled my sensitive ears.

**Kwoong.**

A low, rumbling growl echoed from across the room.

"Kyaa?"

Huh… it's still alive. I didn't hold back at all this time.

Dragons really have thick hides.

I slipped out of Kailian's hands, turned, bared my sharp fangs, and let out a dangerous, low growl.

"Krraarr…"

You think you can just stand up without my permission?

The dragon froze at the sound of my growl.

That tiny white creature had torn its jaw apart with one blow.

The memory of that horror carved pure fear into the dragon's mind.

In a panic it flapped its wings, trying to flee into the sky.

"Kyaaaaah!"

Nobody leaves without my okay! I have to calculate!

I opened my mouth wide and summoned the icy chill Grandfather White Tiger had given me.

The moment the terrible cold filled my mouth I shot it straight at the dragon.

**Fwaaaah!**

The white beam of sacred energy swallowed the flying dragon whole in an instant.

**Crunch! Crack!**

"Cr…woah…"

The dragon didn't even finish its scream as it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hung in mid-air.

Absolute Zero Chill froze the gigantic dragon solid in the blink of an eye.

**Bang!**

The dragon crashed to the ground with a dull thud.

"Kyaaahng."

Dragon Meal-Kit complete. Now it won't move, right?

I watched the frozen monster and wagged my tail in satisfaction.

Gumiho stared at the impossible sight with wide eyes, unsure if what she was seeing was real.

"Ha… haha… what…?"

Just a few hours ago this had been the monster that pushed her to the brink of death.

This overwhelming power… had been completely shattered by a tiny white tiger cub.

Even in the end it fled in shame and became a grotesque ice statue.

Gumiho couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.

"Truly… an impossible little brat…"

Her legs wobbled as she approached me carefully.

"Truly amazing… how did you… kill such a terrifying monster in the blink of an eye?"

Gumiho looked down at me with eyes full of awe and astonishment.

"Kyaa! Kyafufu…"

Now you see my true value.

I felt great and rubbed my face against her knees like a spoiled kitten.

Later I should ask if those fluffy tails are still hungry.

I pointed at the frozen dragon with my paw and looked up at Gumiho.

"Kyaaahng."

Do the same thing you did to that werewolf in the cave and package this dragon too.

When Gumiho saw my obvious gaze and front-paw gesture she finally understood what I wanted.

She still wasn't sharp enough to read between the lines of the butlers.

But her face turned deathly pale as she refused.

"You… don't mean you want me to make that dragon into a marble like the werewolf?"

"Kyaa!"

Yes! Quick! I'm taking this home!

Sweat poured down Gumiho's face as she waved her hands frantically.

"No, that's impossible. The werewolf was small and its remaining mana weak… but this is a dragon! It's even stronger and more powerful than I am. I can't handle it alone."

She gave every reason, but to me it was just a lazy excuse not to work.

I decided to try anyway and come back if it didn't work.

"Kyauuu…"

Today's kids… have no endurance. You say "no" the second it gets hard…

I drooped my ears ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and let out a long, pitiful whine, glancing at Gumiho with disappointment.

Disappointed in Gumiho, I turned and trotted straight to Kailian.

If there's no chicken, I'll take the chicken.

I bumped my paw against Kailian's leg and pulled.

"Kyaa! Kyaaah!"

Butler! Let's take it! I want to show Grandpa!

When I whined and tugged, Kailian placed a hand on her forehead and shouted in exasperation.

"Hey! Blanc! Stop forcing it! How are you even going to carry a mountain of a dragon?! You won't even get through the palace gates!"

"Kyauuu… kyaaahng."

I don't want to! This is my trophy! I'm taking it no matter what! Tell ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the knights to drag it over!

I flopped onto the floor and kicked all four paws in the air, begging desperately.

"Blanc… this stubborn little pig. Moving that thing would require the entire imperial army. It's impossible."

Kailian stroked me and tried every way to comfort me.

But I couldn't leave it behind.

I promised Mama and Grandpa I'd bring it home and show it off!

"Kyaaaah!"

I'm going to carry it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠somehow…! If I leave it, I won't get any more paw kneading!

The pitiful cries of the little cub made Gumiho sigh deeply.

'Haaah… he's the one who saved my life… and even helped me get revenge… I can't ignore when this little one is pleading so desperately.'

She steeled herself, clenched her fists, and walked toward the frozen dragon with solemn determination.

"Step aside… I'll try once."

"What? You just said earlier that it was impossible!"

Kailian asked in surprise, but Gumiho pulled out her fox marble.

**Fwaaah!**

Nine silver tails whipped wildly behind her.

Her spiritual power, concentrated into one small marble while risking her life, made the air tremble.

**Wooong…**

The dragon's body inside the ice began to glow. Space warped with a grotesque screech.

"Grraaaah… aaaaah!"

Black blood poured from Gumiho's nose and mouth.

The dragon's massive magical backlash tore into her body like a blade.

"Kyaa."

You're suffering because of me. I'll make sure it doesn't hurt.

At that moment Blanc came over and blew his divine power into Gumiho's body.

The pain vanished instantly. Her hazy eyes sharpened again.

Finally the struggling dragon disappeared from mid-air as if it had never existed. It shrank to the size of a small glass marble and dropped to the floor with a **tok**.

"Haaah… haaah… has there ever been a time this hard…?"

Gumiho collapsed to the ground, panting hard after pushing herself to her limit.

"Kyaa! Kyaaah!"

Thank you so much for doing it!

I dashed over and rubbed my head against Gumiho's face and neck while she sat on the floor.

"Huu… good. You look satisfied now."

Gumiho smiled weakly at my jelly and fluffy fur, then gently placed the marble containing the dragon into the pouch hanging from my neck.

"Kyaaahng!"

Yay! Done! Now let's go back to the palace!

I tapped the bulging pouch with my paw and set off with a satisfied sway of my hips.

Kailian and Lina both clutched their heads at my proud rear.

"If Her Majesty sees that… what should we do…?"

"…We'd better finish any necessary adjustments before we reach the palace gates."

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