Father, I Won’t Do Anything

“Haah, huff…”

After sprinting ahead, Jaina and Rosian finally discovered a crevice and swiftly took shelter within.

No matter how much mana they channeled into their haste spells, pushing their speed to the limit had severely drained their stamina.

“If we hadn’t found this crevice, it could have ended badly.”

“In any case, we were fortunate…”

Jaina frowned.

“It seems we’ll need more time for our mana to recover.”

“Shall we rest for a bit, then?”

After a brief respite within the narrow crevice, the two emerged and resumed their path.

“I never imagined a boulder would come rolling towards us like that.”

“Nothing will surprise me from now on, no matter what trap appears.”

As they wearily trudged forward, an intricately carved statue caught their eye.

“A statue in a place like this?”

The barren training grounds seemed an unlikely location for such an artifact.

Wary of potential traps, the two cautiously approached the statue.

However, it showed no signs of movement.

Finally exhaling in relief, they continued along the path.

But their reprieve was short-lived.

“Your Highness… Doesn’t the statue’s angle seem slightly altered?”

“You’re right, the statue appears to have moved ever so slightly.”

The moment Rosian signaled Jaina with a glance, the motionless statue began to stir.

“Well, I suppose it wasn’t an ordinary statue after all.”

Baaaang!

Baang!

Their judgment proved accurate.

With their senses heightened by the haste spell, the two narrowly evaded the statue’s attack as it flapped its wings and charged.

Just like the previous boulder, a moment’s inattention would have proven disastrous against this gargoyle.

‘I can’t remain passive either.’

Without hesitation, Jaina conjured wind blades and unleashed them towards the gargoyle’s neck.

Baaaang!

But that was the extent of her attack’s efficacy.

While a fatal strike against an ordinary creature, the gargoyle was unaffected.

Moments before the wind blades made contact, it reverted to its statue form, producing only a dull thud.

Landing on the ground, the gargoyle immediately resumed its assault.

Shoooosh!

Jaina summoned another, more powerful wind blade. Although the gargoyle swiftly transformed again, it proved ineffective against the massive blade’s destructive force, shattering its limbs as they scattered across the floor. She had finally managed to defeat one.

However, relief was premature, as the remaining gargoyles relentlessly charged without pause.

Gritting her teeth at their unexpectedly large numbers, Jaina conjured another wind blade.

But this time, she couldn’t inflict significant damage.

Creating wind blades consumed substantial mana, rendering them ineffective against multiple gargoyles.

Realizing her sky attribute magic’s incompatibility against the gargoyles, Jaina fell into contemplation.

‘Even if I used darkness attribute magic instead of sky, the result would be the same.’

Evading the attacks from multiple directions while attempting to neutralize the gargoyles proved arduous. At this rate, she would inevitably succumb to exhaustion.

“Your Highness, taking them on individually doesn’t seem efficient!”

“Do you have a better idea?”

“I’ll prepare a large-scale spell, so could you buy me some time?”

“Understood!”

Rosian stepped forward, positioning himself protectively before Jaina.

As he closed the distance, the gargoyles seemed to anticipate his approach, swiping at him with their forelegs.

Ka-bang-

However, Rosian’s short sword deflected their attacks.

“This was forged from Miss Jaina’s fangs, you see.”

With a subtle smile, Rosian deftly cleaved one gargoyle in two with his rapier before leaping and striking down another airborne one.

‘Combining the Seratan formula with the Narbed formula…’

Jaina chanted the incantation, tracing seals in midair to prepare her area-of-effect spell.

While casting such a spell left her defenseless, she had no choice but to rely on Rosian.

‘Please endure, Your Highness.’

And that’s when it happened.

“Miss Jaina!”

One of the gargoyles attacking Rosian suddenly shifted its attention and charged towards Jaina.

“…!”

Belatedly realizing the situation, Rosian swiftly turned and tackled Jaina to the ground, shielding her with his body.

Baaang!

The gargoyle’s sharp talons struck the spot where Jaina had been standing, gouging deep into the floor.

A moment’s delay would have led to a disastrous outcome.

“Miss Jaina, are you alright?”

Instead of responding, Jaina extended her arm behind Rosian.

“Huh?”

The instant Rosian sensed the chilling wind at his back.

Baaaaaang!

The gargoyles behind them vanished without a trace in an instant.

“Thanks to Your Highness, I’m alive…”

Despite the life-threatening situation, Jaina’s expression remained remarkably calm.

Observing her demeanor, Rosian let out a deep sigh.

“They say a dragon’s heart is harder than steel… Thank goodness.”

Even during her second practical exam, Jaina had performed admirably without displaying any tension or minor mistakes.

“It’s because Your Highness is here with me. I’m merely providing support.”

“I’m well aware of your capabilities, Miss Jaina. There’s no need for such modesty.”

As Rosian surveyed their surroundings, he suddenly became acutely aware of his and Jaina’s close proximity.

Embracing her as they had fallen, he could clearly discern every detail – her eyelashes, the reflection in her eyes.

“Ah, Im s-sorry!”

Flustered, Rosian abruptly released Jaina and distanced himself, his face flushed as he fidgeted restlessly.

However, regardless of Rosian’s behavior, Jaina remained deep in thought.

‘His Highness mentioned the high probability of an inside job. The absurd difficulty level and severed outside communication point to someone intimately familiar with the academy…’

As she mentally reviewed the individuals around her, Jaina recalled Professor Peyron, who had recently denounced Diamid before her.

The hatred and fear mingled in his eyes as he had fled the headmaster’s office like a fugitive.

‘Would someone so obsessed with wealth and prestige truly abandon his professorship so easily?’

No, he was undoubtedly harboring thoughts of vengeance against her and Diamid.

Having taught students at the academy for so long, he would certainly be well-versed in the practical exam procedures.

‘However, Professor Peyron alone wouldn’t be capable of this…’

Like the Magic Tower, the academy was protected by the grand magicians’ barriers, requiring a permit for entry. He must have had outside accomplices.

‘Accomplices… Could it be the dragons?’

The dragons who had previously controlled Yurika’s mind at the Magic Tower could have manipulated Professor Peyron to carry out their scheme.

With their power, they could have assisted him in bypassing the barriers before forcing him to tamper with the training grounds’ magic circles.

After a period of inactivity, it seemed the dragons had resumed their offensive.

‘How much longer do they intend to target me?’

In the novel, Jaina was assailed by the dragons only once before meeting her demise. Back then, Diamid had neither acknowledged nor aided her.

In other words, the current events were deviations from the original storyline, newly arising from the altered circumstances.

‘Could it be… I’ll have to live in constant fear of the dragons’ honor killing?’

That couldn’t be allowed to happen.

She had narrowly evaded her fate.

She had finally found a semblance of purpose in life.

Jaina met Rosian’s inquisitive gaze.

Seeing him smiling brightly despite his bleeding arm unsettled her.

She felt like a burden to those around her.

“Your Highness, you’re bleeding from your arm.”

“Hm? Ah, this. It’s nothing.”

Despite the laceration and bleeding from shielding her, Rosian remained nonchalant.

His demeanor reminded Jaina of Diamid, who had protected her from the dragons, causing a lump to form in her throat.

With trembling eyes, Jaina regarded Rosian before rising and speaking.

“I’ll try contacting the outside world once more.”

Piii-

However, the result was the same – her mana couldn’t penetrate the training grounds’ barriers.

‘If only I knew how they’re blocking our mana…’

As Jaina sighed deeply, the traps abruptly ceased, and an eerie silence enveloped them.

‘Wait, I sense dragon mana here?’

As Jaina wordlessly advanced, the concerned Rosian, following behind, inquired.

“Miss Jaina, you’ve seemed a bit dazed since earlier. Are you alright?”

Despite the life-threatening situation that would naturally cause panic, Rosian remained remarkably composed, as if attempting to soothe Jaina’s nerves without uttering a single complaint or raising his voice.

He even seemed more attentive than usual.

While grateful for Rosian’s consideration, Jaina also felt apologetic, for he had been placed in danger because of her.

‘If I can sense dragon mana here, it means they were involved in this incident…’

Jaina clenched her jaw. Having faced mortal peril due to her, she could no longer keep this a secret.

After a prolonged silence, Jaina gazed intently at Rosian and spoke.

“It seems… the dragons are trying to kill me.”

“The dragons are trying to kill Miss Jaina…?”

As Rosian repeated her words with a stunned expression, Jaina nodded solemnly.

“I’m sorry. Because of me, Your Highness has become embroiled in this…”

“Hold on, I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying. Could it be that the dragons’ reason for attacking the Magic Tower was…?”

“Yes, they came for me.”

For a moment, Rosian seemed at a loss for words.

“Why would the dragons want to kill you?”

“You’re aware that I was born between a human and a dragon, right? They refer to mixed-bloods like me as ‘mongrels’ and ‘proof of impurity.’ They believe existences tainted by human male blood tarnish the dragon honor.”

“Honor? Killing a child sharing dragon blood is supposed to uphold their honor?”

Rosian’s voice rose in indignation.

“These self-proclaimed superior beings are no different from humans, it seems.”

For a moment, Jaina thought he was directing his anger towards her, but his subsequent words left her eyes widening in surprise.

“No one chooses to be born, yet they label it a sin. And where are the dragon fathers, if they claim you have none? Only to then condemn you as an impure existence? It’s utterly laughable.”

Roughly ruffling his hair, Rosian took a step closer to Jaina and spoke with sincerity.

“Do you remember what I told you before? That I began seriously training in swordsmanship because of you. Those feelings haven’t changed, no matter the opponent. So don’t worry.”

“Your Highness…”

As Jaina gazed up at him, unable to find the words, Rosian cleared his throat before continuing.

“By the way, when did you learn the dragons were targeting you?”

“I’ve known since I was young. In fact, I came to the Magic Tower after being driven out by my dragon relatives.”

Jaina vaguely recounted the circumstances to Rosian, wary of revealing her knowledge of the future.

“I’m sorry for not informing you sooner.”

After a prolonged silence, Rosian consoled Jaina’s bowed shoulders.

“No, it’s alright. You must have had your reasons. If anything, I should apologize for leaving you to struggle alone all this time.”

Hesitating briefly, Rosian pulled Jaina into an embrace.

“You’ve endured so much.”

Countless emotions flickered across Rosian’s face. While longing to speak, to inquire further, he remained silent, his lips pursed tightly.

For at times, silence could provide greater solace than a thousand words.

Jaina gazed at him in a daze, sensing Rosian’s genuine concern for her well-being.

However, her respite was short-lived.

“Your Highness. Look behind you.”

Kkirik, kkirik.

Behind Rosian, draconic soldiers brandishing swords began to move.