NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19
The birds fluttering their wings danced across the sky, raising their sights higher into the heavens.
The dim night was illuminated by the waning moon, soon followed by the glowing amber sun rising above the sky.
Tweet tweet tweet
The song of the birds rejuvenated the sluggish bodies of the sleepyheads.
“U…ugh…”
Stretching, I shook the sleepy girls lying softly on the bed.
“Eleina. Libera, wake up. The sun is high in the sky.”
“Mm… Master…”
“…Ugh… it’s cold…”
Eleina rubbed her eyes awake. She covered her face as she yawned, her lips pouting.
“Yawn… ugh”
Libera, trembling from the cold, followed Eleina’s lead and let out a soft yawn.
“Ha… buh buh buh…”
The golden skin of the Gold Mine Dragon shuddered along with her ragged cloth.
“Eh-eh-choo!”
She let out a sneeze, dripping a bit. Libera’s eyebrows arched straight like a line.
“…”
Keyal inspected Libera’s body.
It was a patchy piece of white cloth that barely qualified as clothing. It looked like the old garment had been used for quite some time, ripped and covered in muck.
‘Wow… at this point, it’s beyond repair.’
Wearing such thin clothing, it was no wonder she was shivering from the cold.
What a sight it was to see a dragon, who should be immune to both heat and cold, bundled up like a burrito and coughing her lungs out.
Keyal approached Libera.
Thump
He grabbed Libera’s slender armpit and lifted her up.
“…Daddy?”
Ignoring Libera’s call, he pressed his face close to the young girl’s chest.
Narrowing the distance, he began sniffing Libera’s scent.
“Ah… Daddy…?!!”
Libera squirmed. Desperate to break free from her father’s grip, she started to push against his forehead, trying to pry him off.
…The effect seemed minimal.
In that moment, the expression on Keyal’s face twisted as he sniffed Libera.
‘Wow, this stinks…!’
Trying to hide his disgust, he forced a smile as Libera tilted her head, blushing in embarrassment.
“….”
Keyal gently lowered her back onto the bed sheets.
‘…Libera.’
“Uh…?”
“Shall we… take a bath first?”
*
We walked through a busy alley and emerged into a bustling market.
Libera dug her hands into a brown bag, munching on a snack, her plump smile rivaling that of the happiest child alive.
“Hehe. Is it that delicious?”
With her cheeks dusted in crumbs, Libera cautiously handed over one of the treats.
“Daddy, do you want to try?”
I shook my head, looking at what appeared to be fried fish tossed right into hot oil without a thought.
“I’ll pass.”
The Gold Mine Dragon licked her fingers with disappointment. Keyal felt a pang of guilt. But there was just no way around it.
‘Ugh…’
I could never even think about touching something so fishy.
If I did, I would surely be running for the restroom in no time, possibly to lose my lunch.
Just looking at it made me queasy; the thought of actually putting it in my mouth was terrifying.
*
Finally, we headed to a well-known market stall in the village.
Especially, a stall specializing in clothing.
Keyal ruffled Libera’s hair.
“Hmm?”
Libera tilted her head, a question mark forming above her head. Keyal gave a sly grin and playfully rubbed her scalp.
“…Hehe.”
An unexplainable smile spread across the Half-beast Tribe’s lips.
She chuckled, her eyes wandering over Libera’s flimsy piece of cloth.
“Dad?”
“Cough! It’s nothing.”
Clearing his throat at her concerned voice, he turned to look at the awkward silhouette in front of him.
We had arrived at a mysterious clothing shop that sold modern-style clothing that felt a bit out of place in the medieval world of TBG Heroes.
“There it is. Let’s go in.”
Keyal pointed toward the building, and our party stepped inside.
*
The interior radiated a somewhat luxurious vibe.
Actually, while the inside was fairly ordinary, the clothes were so flashy that it appeared this way.
As soon as we entered, the store clerk rushed to greet us.
“Welcome! Is there anything specific you are looking for?”
Keyal smiled contentedly.
Nodding, he gestured for them to come along.
‘Do you have clothes for sale?’
Indeed, they had plenty.
Libera, following Keyal closely, looked up at him.
“…”
Once again, that sinister smile spread across her father’s face.
It was the kind of expression that made you think of sleazy uncles lurking around shady places.
How could someone with such a pretty face contort into something so rotten?
The young dragon’s inner monologue stopped. Libera finally understood that her father, Keyal Kralin, had been wearing that strange smile since before they arrived.
She must have unconsciously grinned, imagining adorable little outfits for herself.
Following behind the group with loose steps, she sneakily stole glances at her father, blushing with a shy smile.
Clack
From the side, an Elf perused the shop and glanced over at us.
“…”
The Elf’s eyes narrowed.
The anxious young dragon’s red eyes shone brightly.
As a chilly atmosphere descended and filled the air, the clerk instinctively ducked his head.
“…I’m sorry.”
Keyal pinched the bridge of his nose, realizing he had no choice but to bow his head.
‘Act your age… we’re indoors… at someone else’s shop…’
This thought crossed his mind while tilting his body awkwardly before the server.
Though someone over thirty talking about maturity to the legal elders in front of him might not sit well with the parties involved…
“Why are you so angry?”
“Then why are you so mad about it?”
Compared to those two, I might look like the adult here.
*
After buying several winter items, we exited the store.
I had briefly contemplated buying maid outfits and mini-skirts out of pure selfish desire, but…
I had to drop the idea due to Eleina glaring daggers at me like lasers.
‘…I felt like Homelander for a second.’
Libera fluttered her sleeves while wearing a snow-white overcoat.
The coat seemed a tad large for her petite form.
It swallowed her little hands whole.
“I thought I bought a youth size…”
Libera, being shorter compared to her peers, didn’t reach even 160cm.
Glancing over, the coat was more or less at my waist.
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, but it’s a bit big.”
That much was clear.
Looking closer, the coat trailed along the floor.
It kicked up dirt and completely concealed Libera’s figure.
“…”
At that moment, I felt a chill run down my spine.
Eleina was lurking behind me, her wide killer smile aimed right at me.
‘…Is she mad because I didn’t buy her something?’
Keyal hesitated, then addressed Eleina.
“Uh, are you… okay, Eleina?”
My voice wavered, my whole body was tense under the intimidating gaze of the Elf.
Perhaps it was instincts or intuition.
Was it jealousy? Or just sulking?
A whirlwind of thoughts clouded my mind, feeling the weight of her intimidating demeanor pressing down on me.
I could swear if I misspoke even once, my head would roll.
To be fair, her ire wasn’t directed at me.
“Uh… Eleina?”
“Master.”
“Y-yes?”
The Elf turned her head, meeting my gaze, her eyes now fogged over with a crazed gleam.
‘Shit, this is terrifying…!!’
It felt like a scene from a horror movie.
“Can you buy me something too?”
The ghost-like figure before me spoke in a stiff voice.
Slowly—
That lifeless voice sent shivers down my spine.
“Uh… what do you need—-”
Crack
She twisted something, her left hand clenching into a fist.
“Hehe, it’s nothing major. Just a little something I need.”
‘…I just asked what you need…’
Once again, her ominous smile spread across my vision.
“It’s a request. You can do that, right?”
While phrasing it as a request, it was nothing less than a threat. If I did not comply, I had no idea what she’d unleash upon the world.
Understanding her intent, Keyal nodded slowly.
Realizing the dangerous implications of refusing, he was weighing his options carefully.
While it wasn’t like she’d really kill me… But if I didn’t comply, someone might end up torn to shreds. That damn Elf.
With one hand holding the garments of the young maiden, and the other stubbornly holding onto the warm grip of the Elf beside me, the young dragon and Elf glared fiercely at each other.
If viewed from afar, we’d probably look like a regular family of Mom, Dad, and their daughter.
If only I wasn’t squeezed in the middle of it all.
‘Ow, this hurts so much…!’
How can such delicate hands pack such strength? Oh right.
‘Oh right.’
She was a 6★ Hero.