The Little Sun Dragon's Lesson
The veranda was filled with warm sunlight streaming in generously.
I sat on the chair quietly staring at the sun, and a slight smile naturally formed on my lips. Spring had fully arrived.
‘The weather is good.’
As someone who worships the sun, spring was the most exhilarating season among the four. I could fully savor the warm spring sun.
In summer, I didn’t feel this excited. The humid temperature and hot sunlight were something our sect should feel solemn about, as they represented ‘judgment.’
Of course, spring or summer was still better than winter. Winter was truly a season to be rejected.
‘…Not quite that bad?’
In fact, I had once suffered a lot from the cold due to being caught by one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Army.
Because of that memory, I still get displeased whenever winter comes. It was a kind of trauma.
But now I’ve improved a lot. Since I became a mother of three children, those days are just faint memories.
Thinking of it, old memories came to mind. Looking back after a long time, I found myself smiling.
“What are you laughing at?”
The troublemaker’s voice interrupted my recollection. I stroked the back of Yong-yong-i, who was resting on my knee, and replied.
“Hecatrite, did your world also have four seasons?”
“Four seasons?”
Hecatrite tilted her head in puzzlement, and soon wagged her tail.
“No, only two. One season full of scorching heat that melts you, and one season of bitterly cold wind. I made those two myself!”
“…Is that so?”
She was indeed no ordinary evil dragon. But now she was just a ‘baby dragon.’
‘Nice.’
Not an evil dragon, but a baby dragon. It was a funny joke that would get good reactions if used in a broadcast.
I opened the smartphone memo and wrote down the wordplay I had just recalled under ‘Pet Dragon Yong-yong-i,’ then enjoyed the spring weather again.
The spring sun was good, and the refreshing breeze coming in from the open window felt pleasant.
On days like today, I wanted the whole family to go on a picnic to the park together. I’d have to go when time allowed.
Unfortunately, I had things to do right now. It was the important task I had to accomplish for the future of our sect.
“Hecatrite.”
I quietly called her name, and Yong-yong-i lifted her head.
“Why are you calling?”
“Let’s start again.”
Her wings, which had been flapping, suddenly stopped. At the same time, her tail drooped down. It was clear she was uncomfortable.
Still, without caring, I continued speaking.
“Explain the reason for the existence of the Guardian Dragon. This time, you must only mention the key points briefly.”
The teacher asked the question and waited quietly for the answer.
“…….”
No answer came back.
Suddenly, why this? Curious, I looked down. Hecatrite was staring up at me with her red eyes furrowed tightly.
“Why are you doing this?”
“…I’ve memorized it all, why do you keep asking?”
The voice was full of exhaustion. This was basically the same as openly complaining.
She must have gotten tired of the repetitive memorization. As a teacher, it was a pity.
“I am a great dragon race. I don’t need to memorize it repeatedly.”
“This is my teaching method. If you feel displeased, you may leave my side.”
If you hate the teacher, the monk leaves. The monk who can’t leave has no choice but to endure and live.
Those words contained the feelings of one who doesn’t want to learn. Hecatrite understood my intention smartly and sighed. Then she spoke softly.
“The Guardian Dragon has symbolic meaning. She is the guardian who protects the brilliant light of the sun, and a dragon that symbolizes the authority of the sect. In other words, she can be said to represent the goddess’s sunlight.”
I evaluated the words I had just heard for a moment, then clapped my hands.
“Excellent.”
It was a perfect summary. It was better than expected.
Hecatrite wasn’t a bad thinker. She just had a strong stubbornness and wicked heart, so she didn’t listen well.
But now she had become somewhat obedient.
Precisely, after being set down in front of Liam three times, she started obeying my words. Our former evil dragon was the best at teaching evil personalities after all.
“Explain the process by which you, as an evil dragon, became the Guardian Dragon.”
The second question was given. Hecatrite didn’t dodge this time and answered.
“I was defeated by the hero Liam and had a meeting with Pope Clitia Elluke. Through deep conversation, I realized the goddess’s grace and decided to fly up following the guidance of the sunlight.”
“Very good.”
A pleased smile formed on my face at the exemplary answer.
Now Hecatrite had roughly the basic qualifications to be a Guardian Dragon. The spiritual education over the past week had not been in vain.
Of course, she still had a long way to go.
‘Too evil for a Guardian Dragon.’
First of all, the black scales were the biggest problem. Just by looking at them, they didn’t seem far from the holiness of a Guardian Dragon.
I wanted her body to turn white, but I kept it as is because of Quick Eagle’s opinion that it would be seen as ‘whitewashing.’
I didn’t know what that meant, but since it was the hero’s words, it probably wasn’t bad advice. Since getting involved in rumors would be troublesome, I decided to follow obediently.
Also, changing her violent personality was another issue to fix.
“Kyaaaa! Why am I doing such trivial things!?”
At that moment, Yong-yong-i, who had been gentle for a while, finally couldn’t hold back and tried to cause a disturbance. But it was only struggling, so I pressed her head firmly and suppressed her.
“Hecatrite, you still lack faith.”
Fortunately, the solution was clear.
I put strength into her wobbling head and closed my eyes. Then I forced Yong-yong-i’s eyes closed as well and muttered.
“Dear Sun, there is a sprout here that has not erased the shadow of the heart.”
“I am not a sprout, but a great disaster leading to destruction… Ouch!”
I smacked her chattering mouth to silence her and continued the prayer.
“Honestly, I could kill you, but thinking of the righteous past, I want to guide her to the correct path. Please grant sunlight to this unfortunate dragon who became an evil dragon.”
Finishing neatly, I opened my eyes, and soon Yong-yong-i had become tame. Precisely, she was sulking.
“Uuuu, why when I come over here like this….”
The regretful look was amusing, so I chuckled. With the ability to foresee millions of futures, how could she not have known this would happen?
Curious, I asked right away. She explained with a pouty expression.
“I always look into the future and only make the best choices. I knew about the existence here while peeking into the future.”
“Did you see a future related to this side?”
“…Honestly, it’s ambiguous.”
“What is it?”
Touching the black scales, I asked, and Hecatrite groaned and wagged her tail.
“This was one of the millions of futures I saw where it was the only dark one and hard to see the proper content. It was only shown vaguely, so it was impossible to even guess.”
“…….”
Strange. I couldn’t say the exact reason, but it felt unpleasant and creepy for no reason.
“Doesn’t it seem ominous to you?”
“Of course. But there was nothing I could do. The other futures were all dying to that eagle guy and his companions.”
“I see.”
Now I could roughly understand what had happened.
It was the best choice for Hecatrite. Since she survived without dying, the result was correct.
Still, why was only this future dark? Could it be related to that ‘thing’ I had no choice but to choose for the return?
‘…Troublesome.’
Without clues, I couldn’t continue guessing. The more I thought, the more my head hurt, so I gave up.
Originally, even Hecatrite who directly foresaw futures didn’t know the reason, so there was no way I could find the cause.
I might have to consult the goddess later. Then the vague doubt would be roughly resolved.
After organizing my thoughts, I nodded and opened my mouth.
“Anyway, it seems you won’t be able to use the magic that sees into the future. After all, it doesn’t show well.”
“That’s not true! What do you think I am!”
She puffed her cheeks while asking, so I answered politely.
“A dragon who came across dimensions to conquer this world and was simply suppressed and had her power sealed.”
“…….”
In an instant, the wings flapping at the straightforward fact bombing went limp.
‘Cute.’
Watching her, my affection grew more and more. I was starting to understand why one would keep a pet.
I smiled at the corner of my mouth and scratched Yong-yong-i’s chin.
“But can you really see it?”
“Of course! I can’t see distant futures, but I can predict near ones!”
Then it would be quite useful. By selecting only the futures favorable to me, I could easily achieve my goals.
“How many futures can you see? Even now, millions?”
With expectation, I asked, but the Guardian Dragon suddenly avoided my gaze. Then she opened her mouth cautiously.
“…I can see about one.”
“…….”
It was an insignificant future foresight.
“I can see that much too. In five seconds from now, I will stroke you.”
I counted five seconds in my mind and stroked the small head carefully, with care.
“Uheh….”
Feeling good, Yong-yong-i made a stupid sound, and soon hastily shook her head.
“That’s not a stupid level! It’s a real fixed future!”
“Really? Then predict it right away.”
“Wait!”
Yong-yong-i cried energetically and soon waved her front paws in the air and began whispering softly. It was a dragon language I couldn’t understand.
Soon, a whooshing sound rang out, and Yong-yong-i’s eyes began to shine. It was an ominous black.
I kept still without touching her, worried the magic might go wrong.
How long had I waited?
“Um….”
After a little time, the black light faded.
But unexpectedly, the energetic Hecatrite who should have been bursting to tell what she saw fell into thought.
She had seen a serious future. Watching her uneasily, I noticed her mouth, which had been closed, opened.
“Bad.”
It was a meaningless statement that I couldn’t understand.
“What is bad?”
“You. You will soon suffer a big calamity, so be careful.”
“…….”
Big calamity. It was too vague to be cautious about. So I asked for more information, but Hecatrite remained silent.
What could it be?
I found out a short while later.
“Mom, Mom!”
“Mom!”
The daughters suddenly rushed into the veranda, each grabbing one of my hands and leading me to the TV.
“Love, charge! Fly up!”
On TV, Erina and Evaila were watching the animation they liked lately. It was a cartoon about the idol protagonist and friends doing a flashy performance.
Soon the daughters pointed at the protagonist singing and said.
“Do that!”
“Do it.”
They probably wanted to try what they saw on the animation too. It was a request typical of kids.
I could easily use Liam’s magic to make them do that.
So, about to nod with pleasure, Erina flashed her eyes and patted my thigh.
“Mom do that!”
“…Me?”
Then Evaila spoke softly.
“Mom is the prettiest, so it will suit you well.”
“…….”
Was this the big calamity?
I slowly turned my head and looked at Hecatrite on the veranda.
The Guardian Dragon whose eyes met mine slowly nodded. Unfortunately, the correct answer.
“Love explosion!”
At that moment, the cutely dressed protagonist shouted energetically.
I turned my head back to the animation.
The cute protagonist winked, and fireworks exploded in the performance hall. It was a performance that highlighted the lively and cheerful appearance of a teenage girl.
And the daughters were asking me to do that.
‘…Me?’
Just imagining it made my head spin.