The Countess Lady’s Pet Dragon

Chapter 2: The Lady of Count Valentine (2)

“Huahh…this feels so nice…”

High up in the sky, so high that the entire estate was visible at a glance, Milia spread her arms wide, basking in the pouring sunlight and the blowing wind, having let go of the reins connected to Schwarz’s back.

“Grrowl.”

And then, Schwarz let out a low growl toward her.
It was because seeing her letting go of the reins made him anxious.

“Alright, alright, I got it.”

Noticing his intent, Milia grasped the reins again and lightly patted the nape of his neck with a faint smile.

“Grr…”

Honestly, where did she get such nerve?
Even though just two days ago, she let go of the reins and fell off, Schwarz couldn’t understand where her confidence came from.

“Well then, shall we try it again today?”

“Grro?”

At that moment, hearing Milia’s voice, Schwarz felt her tug on the reins and came to a stop.
Already here, huh? he thought, looking down.

What met his eyes was a massive lake.
Its surface, a deep blue, reflected the sky like a mirror.

Lake Lagradian.
Not only in the Valentine County, but even within the entire kingdom, it was one of the five largest lakes.

“Ready?”

“Grrrng.”

Seeing the lake, Milia asked, and Schwarz nodded in response.

“Great! Let’s take flight again today!”

“Kyauuuuu!!”

At her shout, Schwarz let out a roar and stopped flapping his wings.
Gravity immediately began pulling them downward, and soon the two started falling toward the lake at an almost vertical angle.

Their bodies plummeted toward the water like shooting stars.

“Kyaahahahahah!”

Most people would scream at the terrifying sensation, but Milia was instead laughing loudly, as if she enjoyed it.

‘She really amazes me…’

It was hard to believe she was only ten years old, her courage defied belief.
Where does such bravery come from? Schwarz thought, shaking his head briefly before focusing ahead again.

Taking his eyes off at this point was akin to suicide.
At the same time, the surface of Lake Lagradian rapidly approached…

“Now!!”

“Kyauu!!”

At Milia’s command, Schwarz spun his body in a full circle and spread his wings wide.

Flap!

The sound echoed as their speed rapidly slowed.
The pressure from the descent pressed down on their bodies, but they were used to the sensation.

Tilting his body, Schwarz descended diagonally toward the lake’s surface, flapping his wings as the low wind brushed past.
His tail skimmed the water, spraying droplets that formed a thin mist.

“Yahoo!”

As they reached the lake’s edge and Schwarz flapped his wings once again to rise into the sky, Milia cheered and spread her arms wide.

“Kyauu!!”

In response to her cheers, Schwarz let out a powerful roar.

“That was an amazing flight today!”

“Grr.”

Looking down at the county below, Milia shouted with excitement still on her face. Schwarz answered her with a low growl.
It meant, “You too, my lady,” though he wasn’t sure if she understood it.

“Ugh, my hair’s a mess. Mom’s going to nag me again…”

As they ascended to a higher altitude, Milia began tidying her tangled hair, grumbling under her breath.

Concerned she might slip, Schwarz stopped flapping his wings and began gliding along the flow of the wind blowing through the high sky.

“Seriously, you’re the best.”

“Grrn.”

When she finished fixing her hair, Milia gently patted Schwarz’s neck, and he let out a pleased growl as they continued forward.

It had been about ten minutes since then.

“Hmm…”

“Grro?”

Noticing Milia turning her head and letting out a low hum, Schwarz let out a questioning growl.

An uneasy feeling passed through his mind.

“Schwarz, how about we check over there?”

“Grrr?”

Following the direction she pointed, Schwarz looked and saw a dense forest to the north of the estate.

“Grr! Grrng!!”

At the same time, Schwarz shook his head vigorously.

The Black Forest.
That was what the people of the estate called it.
The trees grew so thick they blocked out the sunlight, making it dark even at noon.

“I’m not asking to go into the forest! Just to pick some raspberries nearby! Please? Can’t we?”

“Grr…”

Schwarz didn’t want to get too close to the forest for her safety.
Yet Milia, seemingly oblivious to his concerns, tugged on the reins with a face that looked ready to cry.

‘How can raspberries be so important…?’

With a sigh, Schwarz let out a low growl.
As she said, if it was just for a quick trip to pick some berries, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.

If they turned back now, she might sneak out alone at night, as she’d done before.
He had no choice but to consider it.

“Gruurr…”

Reluctantly nodding, Schwarz turned toward the Black Forest.

“You’re the best, as always!”

“Grr…”

Milia beamed and lightly patted his neck.
Schwarz narrowed his eyes, dissatisfied, but there was no turning back now.

A short trip should be fine.

With that thought, he headed toward the Black Forest.

A field not far from the Black Forest.
There stood a girl and a dragon.

“Hmm~♬ Hmm~♩ Hmm~♪”

Milia hummed cheerfully, gathering red berries from the bushes nearby.
She had collected so many that raspberries were spilling from her pockets.

Schwarz, sitting under a nearby tree, watched the scene unfold.

‘The weather’s starting to change…’

The once-clear sky was now covered with dark clouds.
The air had grown damp, and the thick clouds seemed ready to pour rain at any moment.

“Grr…”

Even if they left now, it would be hard to avoid the rain.

As Milia focused on picking raspberries, Schwarz began clearing the ground.
He swept away grass and stones with his tail and gathered dirt into a small mound.

This should be enough…

Just as he exhaled, a cold raindrop fell onto his snout.

The next moment, rain poured down as if the sky had opened.

“Kyaaah! I’m getting soaked!!”

Milia, who had been absorbed in picking berries, rushed to Schwarz’s side in panic as the rain poured down.

“Grr…”

Schwarz made space by lifting one of his wings for her to shelter from the rain.

“Hehe, thanks.”

“Kyau.”

It looked like a passing shower, though it was coming down hard.

Despite his efforts, water still dripped through the gaps, soaking Milia’s clothes.

“A-Achoo!”

She sneezed loudly, shivering lightly as she sniffled.
After all, she was just a ten-year-old girl—prime age to catch a cold.

‘It can’t be helped.’
Thinking that, he lay flat on the ground, curling his body into a ball.

“Schwarz? What’s wrong?”
“Kkeung…”

At his sudden action, Milia tilted her head in confusion, but soon, as if understanding his intent, she smiled softly. His curled body formed a wall to block the splashing raindrops, while his outstretched wings acted as a roof, shielding her from the falling rain.

A small cave made just for her in an instant.

“Thank you!”
“Grreung…”

Milia settled onto his slightly extended forepaw like a chair and lightly stroked his cheek. The warmth of her tiny hand was comforting, but her body was still trembling.

‘This is bad…’

While a cold wouldn’t be life-threatening, hypothermia was a concern. The rain showed no sign of letting up… How much time had passed?

“Kkeung…”
“I-I’m fine… I c-can handle this much…!!”

As Milia’s shivering worsened noticeably, Schwarz let out a worried growl. Though she responded bravely, her lips had already turned a pale blue—a clear sign her hypothermia was getting worse.

“Kki-woong…”

He was debating whether to risk rushing her back to the mansion when…

“The…the rain sounds weaker, don’t you think?”
“Kkiung?”

Tilting his head at her words, Schwarz pricked up his ears, and indeed, the sound of the rain had lessened. He cautiously raised his wings and scanned the surroundings, seeing that the dark clouds were slowly clearing.

“Fiuu…”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Schwarz stood up and shook off the water from his body.

“Kkeung…”
“I-I’m fine…The sun is coming out…”

Milia reassured him, but her shivering had not stopped. He hoped that basking in the sunlight would help warm her, and as he waited for her to recover, he surveyed the area.

And then…

“…?”

Something glittering deep within the forest caught Schwarz’s eye, narrowing his gaze.

Not far from them lay the entrance to the forest—dark and foreboding like its namesake, the Black Forest. From within that suffocating darkness, crimson eyes glowed ominously.

‘No way…!’

Praying it was merely a passing wild animal, Schwarz fixed his tense stare on those glowing eyes. However, his hopes were dashed as the red glows began to move closer toward the forest’s edge.

[Grroooowwwrrr…]

Emerging from the shadows, the creature had the body of a lion, sharp claws, and two broad wings extending from its shoulders. Its tail, covered in what looked like armor, ended in sharp spikes resembling a mace, with more spikes running down its spine.

But the most disturbing feature was its grotesque face—a hideous fusion of a lion’s and an old human’s.

‘Manticore…!’

Schwarz inhaled sharply.

[Kyahhhhhh-!!]

At that moment, the manticore let out a deafening roar, directing its rage toward him.