Chapter 117
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: One Day, Suddenly (2)
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3.
What followed was completely unexpected.
Karron had been confidently pressuring the elf girl, but
Shes obviously a hatchling of the Evil Dragon. Were all being deceived by her cuteness
Will you be quiet? Your arms are dropping. Keep them straight up.
...Sniffle.
The elf girl was crying, clutching the wooden doll tightly, while Karron was forced to kneel on the floor with both arms raised.
And just like that, the sudden hostage situation was brought to an end by Rion.
Rion gently stroked the head of the sniffling elf girl.
You were very scared, weren't you?
I I was just so scared, I was hiding and he tried to break my treasure
It took a very long time to console the girl.
While Karron was being punished, Leo sidled up behind him, clapping.
Impressive, Karron Leston. Now youre taking a childs doll hostage? I can only express my admiration for your daily improvement. Hey, are you even human?
...The hatchling is definitely dangerous
Does she look dangerous to you?
Tears streamed endlessly from her large eyes.
She even had a runny nose.
All the while, she clutched the doll tightly in her tiny, fern-like hands.
Guillotine said she was a hatchling!
At Karrons attempt to shift the blame, Guillotine replied with disbelief.
-I said she was Etarons hatchling, not that you should pull a stunt like that, you wicked master. How could you do such a thing with a child's doll? Youre truly subhuman. Even demons would shake their heads at what you just did.
Im the bad guy again, always me.
Karron. You are a fine warrior, but at the same time, a terrible human being. How could you commit such a merciless act against a child? What you did just now was not honorable. I am greatly disappointed.
Even Urhan looked down on Karron with contempt.
A warrior must protect the weak. Do you not see this girl as someone to be protected?
At those words, Karron looked again at the elf girlor rather, the hatchling.
She does seem like a harmless creature. But I know her true form. She definitely has some wicked scheme
WHAP!
Rions hand struck Karrons back.
If she really meant us harm, she would have done something already.
It could be an act, sis. She could be hiding her power
If she had any power, you know what? She would have broken your wrist long ago. I know I would have. You really have no filter in front of a child.
It was a logical rebuttal, typical of Rion.
Karron wracked his brain for a counterargument to Rions logic, but of course, there was none.
I concede.
He had no choice but to admit that this hatchling was harmless.
For now, at least.
After the storm had passed, the hatchling, who had finally stopped crying, spoke in a small voice.
...Im going to tell my uncle everything.
See, she has an accomplice? I knew it. Your plan was to stall for time until your accomplice arrived
SMACK!
Rions palm struck again.
Hsssss.
Kerua Akte. Isnt it obvious he was the one looking after her?
Ah, I know that. I was just trying to lighten the mood with a joke
You should seriously never get married and have kids.
Why not?
Im genuinely worried my niece or nephew might turn out like you.
Rions words were laced with sincerity.
But just then, the hatchling in Rions arms squirmed and spoke.
Sister, dont hit my daddy.
Im not hitting him, Im giving him a stern lesso Huh? What did you just say?
Dont hit my daddy.
...Daddy? Whos daddy?
In response to the question, the hatchling pointed a finger at Karron.
In that instant, Rions expression froze like ice.
And she wasnt the only one.
Everyone present froze, including Karron, the one who had just been designated as daddy.
A long silence filled the living room.
The one who broke it was none other than Leo.
Leo looked at the hatchling with a grave expression, then spoke in a dead-serious voice.
...Then whos the mom?
It was a completely unexpected question.
Rion and Utulla simultaneously shot Leo a look of pity.
You call that a question right now?
Pathetic, Leo. I am greatly disappointed in you as well.
What, was I really the only one wondering?
Leo looked at Karron and continued, his voice full of indignation.
What if Karron got into some trouble we dont know about?
You do know Karron is seventeen this year, right?
Then maybe, four years ago, when he went to the capital
He was thirteen back then, you lunatic. Try to make some sense. Besides, shes a dragon hatchling.
...In that case, before he came to the Azure Sea Castle
WHACK!
Karron, who had been standing quietly, smacked the back of Leos head with his scabbard.
Leo collapsed to the floor, foaming at the mouth.
Seeing this, Rion clicked her tongue and shook her head.
Leo wasnt like this when he was younger. Hes been completely corrupted by you, Karron.
Thats why Im planning on dealing with him properly later. Ive let him be for too long, and hes clearly lost his mind.
Even more bewildered than the others was Karron himself.
It was baffling enough that Kerua was looking after a hatchling, but for that hatchling to call him daddy?
Could there be a more absurd situation?
Why am I your daddy?
The hatchling hugged her wooden doll and replied.
I can just tell.
Im not your daddy.
Yes, you are!
Her declaration was as firm as it was resolute.
Karron sighed, looking at the hatchlings puffed-out cheeks.
Just then, Guillotine casually posed a question.
-Master, not that Im misunderstanding or anything but is it possible that in your past life, with a dragon
The furnace.
-Never mind. No. That cant be right. Haha, Etaron was an evil dragon from 300 years ago. Just ignore me.
In his forty-six years of life, spanning this life and the last, there hadnt been a single woman who had so much as passed by.
And now, suddenly, a daughtera hatchling daughter, no less.
It was beyond baffling; it was chaotic.
This felt like the first time in this life he had faced a situation that couldnt be solved with force.
As Karron was racking his brain, the hatchling approached him, smiled brightly, and said.
You were so mean. You tried to break my favorite doll But Ill let it go this one time! Im just happy to see you, Daddy!
Her smile alone seemed to brighten the entire room.
At the sight, Karron couldnt help but smile fondly.
Just as his hand twitched with the urge to pat the hatchlings head, Rion muttered to herself.
A father who threatens to break his daughters toy? Isnt that the definition of human garbage?
I agree, Karron. As a father, you are undoubtedly trash.
There was no one left on Karrons side.
4.
The hatchling introduced herself as Aquarius.
But the name didnt exactly roll off the tongue.
So, Karron decided to give her a nickname.
How about something simple and easy, like Dragon-y?
I dont like Dragon-y
His naming sense could only be described as the absolute worst.
Seeing his tragically pathetic taste, a sighing Rion stepped in to sort out the nickname.
How about Aqua or Ari?
The hatchlings face lit up as she nodded.
Aqua! Uncle calls me Aqua, too.
Then you should have just asked to be called Aqua from the start.
When Karron asked with an indifferent expression, Aqua replied shyly.
I wanted my daddy to give me a nickname.
She said this and beamed.
Faced with that innocent smile, which was impossible to associate with an evil dragons hatchling, Karron slowly nodded.
She is cute.
Actually, when he thought about it, this wasnt such a bad situation.
This girl who called him daddy was Etarons hatchling. In other words, one day she would become a dragon.
Was there really a need to stop her from calling him daddy?
She might prove useful someday.
-Youre looking at this adorable creature from that perspective? Master, youre worse than I imagined. How about you go give lectures to the demons?
He decided to lightly ignore Guillotines words.
Because.
Who was it that boasted about cutting down this cute creatures mother?
From Aquas perspective, Guillotine was the one who killed her parent.
But Guillotines response was truly a masterpiece.
-Thats because Etaron was a dragon that deserved to die. It was self-defense.
While Karron was arguing with Guillotine, Aqua, who had been watching him, carefully took his hand.
That black cat from before, is that your contracted spirit?
It is. Why?
I was scared before, so I hid. Can I say hello to the cat?
Thats not a problem.
Karron skillfully summoned Pluto.
Meeeow!
At Plutos appearance, Aqua smiled happily.
Pluto, too, seemed pleased, rubbing its face against Aquas leg before expertly climbing onto her head.
A cute thing on top of another cute thing doubled the effect.
Whats this spirits name?
The hatchling was full of questions.
It was a bit bothersome, but because she was cute, he decided to answer obediently.
Pluto.
Pluto! Thats a pretty name, too.
A wooden doll in one hand, a cat on her head.
Karron quietly observed Aqua, who was fully armed with cuteness. Then he asked in a subtle tone.
Aqua, can I ask you something?
Yep! Ill answer anything for you, Daddy.
Im a little curious about why you call me daddy. We just met for the first time today.
With Rion glaring daggers at him from behind, he couldnt ask coercively.
So Karron treated Aqua with the gentlest demeanor he could muster.
Umm.
Aqua fell into thought for a moment.
She seemed to be pondering how to explain.
But it was only for a moment before she shook her head.
Its hard for you to understand because youre not a dragon A gut feeling? Hmm, its hard to explain. Anyway, youre my daddy.
It seemed prying any further would be impossible.
Aqua, how old are you this year?
Seven. The World Tree told me.
The World Tree?
Yep.
Seven years old.
Karron thought back seven years.
That was around the time I first entered the Azure Sea Castle
No matter how much he thought, nothing came to mind.
After being reincarnated, he had been diligently focused on growing stronger.
Ill have to stop by Gallard on the way and ask the regent.
It seemed to be related to the World Tree.
The Evil Dragon Etaron.
The World Tree.
For now, he had no way of knowing the connection between these two entities.
And above all.
She feels familiar to me, too.
Should he call it a strangely deep sense of kinship?
Oddly enough, he didnt feel much resistance to Aqua calling him daddy.
Aqua, youre so smart for being seven.
A prodigy, a prodigy.
Hmph, if you wish to ride on my shoulder, just say the word. I can carry you anytime.
Just as Karrons party was becoming completely smitten with Aqua.
-...Master.
Guillotines voice echoed in Karrons mind.
I know.
It was for a fleeting moment, but he felt someone approaching the house from outside.
A powerful mana, strong enough to give him goosebumps.
It was a level of mana that could rival that of Rebellios royal guard, Mason.
There was only one being here who could possess such power.
Kerua.
It seemed Kerua was returning home.
Karron silently stared at the door.
He wondered what he would say first when they met, but nothing immediately came to mind.
He figured his complicated thoughts would clear up once they were face to face.
He waited with a calm heart for Kerua to enter the house.
...Why isnt he coming in?
But no matter how much time passed, Kerua didnt appear.
Theres no way I sensed it wrong.
Then, a certain guess flashed through his mind.
Uninvited guests had broken into a house where only a child was present.
If it were him, how would he perceive this situation?
As his thoughts reached that point, a cold sweat began to form on Karrons forehead.
Karron forced a smile and said.
Nah, no way. He has Aqua with him, he wouldnt just recklessly attack
Before Karron could finish his sentence.
Shhhk!
A horribly immense wave of sword energy split the house in two.