Father, I Won’t Do Anything

“What is the precise situation we’re facing currently?”

“Why would a child need to know such details?”

“Yes, Jaina. You should rest.”

“This is not something you need concern yourself with.”

When Jaina inquired about the circumstances, they initially refrained from providing any information.

“This is related to me. I have to hear it too.”

However, as she fixated her unwavering gaze upon them, mouth firmly set, the three eventually acquiesced to her insistence.

“As usual, I had ventured outside to procure research materials. On my return, I sensed an ominous presence and hurried back to the Magic Tower, only to find combat had already erupted.”

“…”

“Mikael and the other magicians were desperately holding the line, obstructing the path leading to the Magic Tower.”

Following Hilvenzia’s explanation, Jaina turned towards Mikael, his formerly pristine robe now saturated in blood.

Contemplating the anguish he and the other magicians must have endured caused her heart to plummet.

Yet she felt neither anger nor resentment.

Only a chilling sensation, as if icy water had been poured over her head, permeated her being.

Jaina clenched her fists tightly.

‘What wrong have I committed? I was simply born between a human and a dragon.’

There had been a time when she had considered her very existence in this world an unforgivable sin.

‘Honor killing’ had seemed inevitable, and each day at the Magic Tower, she had braced for her impending demise.

Her life had felt devoid of meaning or purpose – she had merely longed for its swift conclusion.

But now, everything had changed.

Though an unwanted existence, and an arduous journey to reconcile with Diamid, Jaina had ultimately found profound significance in her suffering and begun to experience true happiness.

As a result, she no longer regretted or considered her birth a sin.

Her mother Bezrice, who had fought tirelessly to protect her.

Her father Diamid, who had belatedly endeavored to fulfill his paternal duties, dispelling their misunderstandings.

Instead, she took immense pride in sharing their bloodlines.

Yet her dragon kin not only condemned her very existence but also denied her mother’s legacy and sought to slay her father and family.

This, Jaina couldn’t abide.

“Brother Mikael.”

Jaina’s somber gaze fell upon Mikael once more.

Despite his trembling eyes, he japed lightheartedly:

“Ignoring me already? This is nothing, you shorty.”

The familiar ‘shorty’ endearment, unheard for so long.

An attempt to console her, masking his own anguish.

Jaina nearly shed tears.

“Hilvenzia.”

“Oh my, staring at me so intently is rather embarrassing.”

Hilvenzia’s body was covered in burn marks and lacerations.

Yet rather than expressing discomfort, she nonchalantly jested about conducting reagent experiments on herself.

Jaina then looked around once more.

Dozens of magicians lay strewn about, writhing in agony.

While some were unfamiliar faces, most were magicians she had encountered previously.

Biting her lip until it bled, Jaina’s trembling eyes betrayed her turmoil.

Though not her fault, she couldn’t resist the overwhelming sense of guilt and self-reproach.

‘If only I hadn’t changed the original storyline…’

As Jaina hung her head despondently, cradling her face, a familiar warmth enveloped her from behind. Startled, she raised her gaze to find Diamid embracing her tightly, whispering reassuringly.

“Father?”

“Jaina, you bear no blame. This is solely the foolishness and frailty of the dragons.”

You don’t need to burden yourself with guilt.

Diamid enveloped Jaina’s hands within his own, the comforting warmth prompting her to blink back tears.

“No justification can absolve the suffering they have inflicted upon you. You are the victim, never forget that.”

“That’s right, those dragon bastards are the problem.”

“Jaina, focus only on yourself.”

Overwhelmed by their warm concern, Jaina lowered her head, blinking rapidly as her vision blurred with unshed tears.

‘Yes, no more self-reproach. I have a family to protect.’

Regardless of her ill-fated destiny, she had those who would stand by her through any adversity.

Now was the time for her to muster courage.

* * *

“Why have we, the pinnacle of all lifeforms, been unable to eradicate this blight upon our honor?”

The dragons knew the answer, yet their towering pride prevented them from voicing it aloud.

To admit that a mere human male like Diamid had caused this entire debacle would be tantamount to acknowledging humans’ superiority over their own kind.

“Rumors from the human high society consistently describe that human male and the mongrel as deeply devoted to one another.”

“This blight upon our honor struts shamelessly before the world. We can no longer idly tolerate this. Measures must be taken.”

“Measures, you say? Didn’t the Blue Sky clan’s vanguard suffer near annihilation in their latest offensive?”

“Indeed. The demonic beasts from the mountain ranges were also entirely eradicated, it seems. The number of beasts we can deploy dwindles by the day.”

Rumors of Diamid single-handedly slaughtering the demonic beasts during the hunt had already reached the dragons’ ears.

They began accusing one another.

“The Black Night clan’s plight stems from the Blazing Flower clan initially deploying only two dragons, holding back their full might.”

“How dare you! It was the Blue Sky clan’s magical blunder that…”

Bang!

“Silence!”

At the clan leader Kalarya’s bellow, silence fell, though the expressions of those gathered betrayed their lingering discontentment – unvoiced grievances clearly festered within.

After a prolonged pause, Kalarya resumed speaking.

“I believe we all share outrage at this affront to the dragon honor.”

“…”

“The blight we must erase is evident – the abomination and those insectile humans who defend it. Yet must we, the pinnacle of all lifeforms, turn upon one another?”

His words proved why he had been elevated as the clan leader.

Kalarya proposed a solution to appease the dragons.

“We still hold advantages. Exerting pressure through the temples will isolate them from the human realm. Thereafter, we shall deploy our greatest powers – the celestial dragons – upon the Magic Tower itself.”

[Jaina Bellafanian, absent from prophecy, is the root of all calamity.]

This pretext had previously proven effective in manipulating humans to assault Jaina.

However, the issue remained – with Diamid’s aid, she had repeatedly eluded the temples’ grasp.

Thus, Kalarya placed no sole reliance upon the temples. He intended to leverage them while simultaneously committing the dragons’ full might against the Magic Tower.

* * *

“How long must we persist with harassing Lady Jaina due to this supposed prophecy?”

As Kalarya had anticipated, the High Priest refused to cooperate as before.

Instead, he spoke in Jaina’s defense.

“Had Lady Jaina not manifested as prophesied, the Tower Lord would have fallen into depravity, and Her Highness Princess Elia would have perished by his hand.”

“But…!”

“I consider Lady Jaina’s present appearance a blessing. Her presence has altered everything. Because of her, the Tower Lord actively began eradicating demonic beasts…”

Having failed to persuade the High Priest, the dragons resorted to forcibly coercing the temples as planned.

Srrung!

Temple officials bribed by the dragons drew their swords against the High Priest.

“Relay this message to the other temple officials – from this hour forth, the Magic Tower is an enemy of the continent.”

“I can’t comply. That would be unjust.”

“Then spend your remaining days regretting your devotion to God.”

‘If you don’t heed the dragons, you shall share the High Priest’s fate.’

The High Priest’s status proved a potent bargaining chip to threaten the other temple priests. Ultimately, the utterly subservient senior priest Baeron unanimously ascended as the new High Priest, commanding the temple forces.

“The Tower Lord, sovereign of the Magic Tower, has not only defamed the sacred dragons safeguarding this continent but committed acts defying God’s will. He and his abominable daughter are enemies of the continent!”

While devising countermeasures against the dragon threat, Jaina was deeply shaken upon learning of the temples’ declaration of war against the Magic Tower.

“I never expected the temples to side with the dragons.”

“According to Elia, the previous High Priest’s sudden demise may not have been unrelated to the dragons’ machinations.”

“It seems the majority of temple priests are being coerced into following the new High Priest’s directives. In other words, the temples are under the dragons’ duress.”

Izren, who had hurriedly returned from the academy, elaborated upon Diamid’s remarks.

Jaina’s astonished gaze fell upon Izren.

While the demonic beasts were compelled to obey the dragons, she hadn’t anticipated the temple priests themselves being subjugated through such threats.

“…And what of the imperial forces?”

After a contemplative silence, Diamid inquired, massaging his brow. Mikael, standing nearby, responded.

“Support requests to the imperial forces have gone unanswered. It seems they are preserving themselves.”

“Moreover, time is perilously scarce. Even if they provide reinforcements, the gate’s capacity is limited.”

“Then we shall abandon any expectation of imperial aid. Formulate our strategies based solely on the Magic Tower’s capabilities.”

Thus, with Jaina, Diamid, Hilvenzia, Mikael, and Izren at its core, the Magic Tower began preparations to confront the dragons and the temples.

Though victory seemed improbable without the Empire’s support, not a single voice raised any objection or complaint.

Then, one day, unexpected visitors arrived at the Magic Tower via the gate – Diamid’s former comrades, Seiden and Elia.

Though initially overwhelmed with emotion, Jaina strove to compose herself, greeting them courteously.

“I didn’t anticipate your presence here. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

“Your father has saved my life countless times – of course I would come.”

“You are the one facing the greatest hardship currently. There is no need to concern yourself with others. I should apologize for lacking the authority to mobilize the imperial forces, Jaina.”

Seiden and Elia gently consoled her reassuringly.