The story of how the Demon Dragon Raizakia met his end left Ariartel's expression rigid with shock.
"So... you're saying the two of you vanquished that Demonic Dragon?"
Ariartel found it hard to believe. Regardless of his weakened state, a dragon was still a dragon. Furthermore, Raizakia had been no ordinary dragon. Yet, the two of them had slain it? Without an army?
"With a bit more luck, I could have killed it alone,” said Eugene.
"As if. Even if you'd managed to kill Raizakia by yourself, you'd have died in the aftermath," said Sienna.
"You don’t know that."
"No? If I hadn't come to rescue you, you would have died alone, even without Raizakia having to lift a claw."
Eugene could only pout, unable to find any words of rebuttal. Sienna's words held truth. Even if he had managed to hold a bit longer and destroy Raizakia's dragon heart, his physical body would have collapsed as a consequence of the strain.
Ariartel's initial surprise ebbed as she watched their bickering. She composed her expression before speaking.
"Hmm…. For all the dragons in their long slumber, excluding me, of course, we all wanted Raizakia’s death. The Demonic Dragon was a disgrace to the dragons.”
Ariartel herself had desired to participate in Raizakia's extermination. However, as the guardian of the sleeping dragons, she couldn't risk joining a potentially dangerous battle. Thus, she had allied with Eugene, the Stupid Hamel. She had engraved the Draconic spell onto the Akasha as requested, improved Akasha itself, and even loaned him Agaroth's ring.
"On behalf of all slumbering dragons, I, Ariartel the Red Dragon, bow to you heroes. Wise Sienna, Stupid Hamel, thank you both for vanquishing the Demon Dragon Raizakia."
"Stop calling me Stupid Hamel," Eugene muttered, his eyebrows furrowing.
Sienna had remained silent until now. She swiftly raised her gaze to meet Ariartel’s.
"May I make a request then?" she asked.
"Wise Sienna, I consider myself greatly indebted to you. Feel free to ask anything of me,” answered Ariartel.
Sienna hadn't hoped for gratitude only in words. She took several breaths to gather her thoughts before launching into a detailed story.
She spoke of the grievous wounds inflicted by Raizakia that had led to her being sealed for hundreds of years. During this time, she had become weakened and incomplete. Even though she had miraculously been released from her seal following the vanquishing of Raizakia, her wounds were far from fully healed. She spoke of the world's fragile peace, the prophecy of the Demon King of Incarceration, and the story of the Demon King of Destruction, who had driven countless dragons to death during the era of war.
Ariartel's face darkened progressively with each grim, grave, and urgent tale. Even from her perspective, this era's situation and future were bleak and despairing.
Even though they'd felled the Demon Dragon Raizakia, the other Dukes of Helmuth were on a different level altogether — they had grown stronger and more formidable over the centuries.
Observing the world from the towering Babel, the Demon King of Incarceration was dispensing peace like divine grace.
Moreover, even though he had been silent in his own domain of Ravesta for centuries, there was an unsettling uncertainty about when the Demon King of Destruction might suddenly stir.
In contrast, the adversaries were still quite feeble. Apart from Ariartel, all the other dragons lay sleeping.
Ariartel, though proud of her draconic heritage, didn't overestimate her strength. The pride and power of her magnificent race had already been brutally crushed three hundred years ago.
Gathering dozens of dragons would still not be enough to oppose the Demon Kings, particularly the Demon King of Incarceration and Destruction. The two demon kings had been the primary perpetrator of the dragon massacre. Ariartel was still young and inexperienced in battle. The Red Dragon had realized very early that she could not be a worthy adversary to the Demon Kings in this era.
“The favor I wish to ask of you is," Sienna paused, noting the shadow that crossed Ariartel's face. Her words were verbose, but the gist was straightforward: did Ariartel have any remaining dragon hearts?
“…Hmmm.”
Ariartel hesitated, lips moving soundlessly.
Why did they need a dragon heart? Why was Sienna asking for one?
The Red Dragon had heard the reasons. Though Raizakia's wounds were no longer visible, scars remained in the astute Sienna's soul. Healing those wounds, and fighting against the demon race and the Demon Kings in the future, required the power of a dragon heart. Yes, Ariartel understood that and hadn't thought to question Sienna's motives.
“Hmm….”
If the request had come from the Stupid Hamel, the Red Dragon might have hesitated more. But the Wise Sienna asked directly meant the need was indeed dire. After a moment's pause, Ariartel nodded.
"If it's truly a desperate need, Wise Sienna, I can spare a dragon heart."
"Ah! Really?!" Sienna’s excitement was understandable.
"But... well…. No, I should not hesitate. This is all for the sake of the world…."
Ariartel shook her head a few times before raising her hand high. With a loud crack, the air warped slightly, and a dragon heart pulsing with red light fell from the gap.
“This is…,” Sienna muttered.
Ariartel placed the object, which was slightly larger than her head, onto her palm and gave a sad smile. The dragon heart on her palm vibrated and emitted light before shrinking to the size of a fist.
"It’s my mother's dragon heart. She barely survived the battle with Destruction and Incarceration but could not fully recover from her wounds and passed away centuries ago. This dragon heart... is the keepsake she left me,” said Ariartel.
"Ahh…."
"I believe it would be better for the world if the Wise Sienna uses it for a righteous cause rather than me holding onto it. Thus, I will transfer this dragon heart to you. I hope that it can restore some of your strength and heal the wound inflicted by the traitor of our race, Raizakia,” continued Ariartel.
Although it was a lie that the wound from Raizakia remained, it was too late to deny it now, wasn't it? Even so, Sienna felt sincere gratitude as she bowed her head.
"Indeed, Ariartel. What we failed to accomplish three centuries ago, we shall achieve this time around. Your support, or rather, the support of the dragons, will not be forgotten."
Sienna gently accepted the dragon heart. It was impossible to implant the dragon heart into Frost here, so for now, she tucked it into her cloak. Having handed over the dragon heart, Ariartel seemed somewhat relieved and satisfied.
Yet their business was not quite finished. Eugene studied Ariartel's expression while she surreptitiously grasped the hem of her cloak.
"Are you not going to inquire about Raizakia's hatchling?" he asked.
"She must have perished, no?" Ariartel responded with a look of puzzlement.
Surely the Demon Dragon’s hatchling would also have been a Demonic Dragon. It would have definitely perished at the hands of the Stupid Hamel. She hadn't even considered questioning it.
"Come out,” said Eugene.
"I... I refuse."
"I said, come out."
Eugene reached into his cloak and seized Raimira’s horn. Ariartel’s eyes widened at the sight of Raimira being drawn from the cloak.
"The Demon Dragon's hatchling!" Shock quickly turned to enmity. Ariartel stood up abruptly and unleashed a fierce wave of Dragon Fear. "So, this is it! Stupid Hamel! You've been considerate enough to spare me the task of punishing this hatchling myself. Good! Imposing the sins of the father onto the child may be cruel, but it is my duty as a dragon to burn the seed that will one day become the Demon Dragon—"
"She's just a dragon,” Eugene interrupted.
"What did you say?" asked Ariartel.
"A bit simple and stupid, yes... but still…. No, besides that, I told you before! Stop unleashing your Dragon Fear like that! It scares the little one!" shouted Eugene.
As Eugene scolded her, he comforted the shivering Mer in his cloak. At his angry words, Ariartel recoiled while Raimira glared resentfully at Eugene.
"Benefactor, why do you discriminate like this between Mer and this Lady?" asked Raimira.
"What discrimination...?"
"Is it not? You comfort and worry about Mer when she's scared, yet you dismiss this Lady’s fears and drag me out?" Raimira accused.
"All of this is for your own good. It's all to help you." Eugene gently stroked Raimira's head a few times, feeling a bit guilty at her accusation. Kristina, who had been silently watching this exchange, had a fervent conversation with Anise in her mind.
'See, Sister, Sir Eugene is indeed kind.'
[Even if you consider their actual ages, Raimira is at least five times older than Hamel, but that's not important. The fact that Raimira acts like a child makes it easier for us to show her maternal affection and to restrain Mer.]
‘It feels like we’re practicing for parenthood.’
Anise was caught off guard by Kristina’s thoughts. Kristina watched the interaction between Raimira and Eugene with a fond gaze, no more words spilling from her lips. A vivid image of a bustling family life took shape in her mind, extending even to a future where Raimira acted as an older sister or aunt to her own yet-unborn child.
“... Not a Demonic Dragon?”
It took Ariartel a moment to compose her emotions and scrutinize Raimira. Raimira shrank back and avoided eye contact, unable to meet Ariartel's gaze.
“She is indeed a spawn of Raizakia, but she hasn't fallen like him. Though she isn't exactly unscathed either,” explained Eugene.
“That crimson gem in her head. It's a fragment of a dragon heart,” said Ariartel, narrowing her eyes and studying Raimira. Despite her eccentricity, Ariartel was still a true dragon. She recognized the powerful constraint imposed on Raimira by the gem — a magic seal placed by Draconic.
“Do you wish for me to remove this seal?” asked Ariartel.
“If it is within your power.”
“Hmph…. Do not test me, Stupid Hamel. While the seal is potent, Raizakia is dead. My Draconic can indeed interfere with it,” Ariartel said before looking at Eugene. “However… I must be cautious with this. Stupid Hamel, do you seek to release the seal on this hatchling to control her? Or to free her?”
“What kind of answer do you desire?” asked Eugene.
“She has not fallen like her father. This hatchling is a dragon . She has no obligation to atone for her father's sins. I believe, as a fellow dragon, I must guarantee her freedom,” answered Ariartel.
“This Lady is already sufficiently free,” Raimira jumped into the conversation before Eugene could say anything. In that short moment, she had thought about what would become of her. From what she gathered, the stern-looking Red Dragon seemed to be on her side, advocating for her as fellow kin.
But freedom? Where exactly? Here, in this run-down house in the countryside with the smell of animal dung, alone with this Red Dragon? Or perhaps living in a cave deep in a mountain surrounded only by flora and fauna, just like in numerous legends and fairy tales. Was that the freedom this Red Dragon advocates for?
‘I refuse.’
The mere thought of it was horrifying. Raimira had spent two hundred years imprisoned in the secluded palace of the Demon Dragon Castle!
Regardless of this, Raimira was very much aware of her identity as a dragon. Even as a young hatchling, she knew how tempting a prey she was to greedy humans and other races.
Eugene Lionheart was strong. Raimira had seen the evidence of Eugene's strength many times. She had seen him crush the terrifying beastfolk monster, making a fool out of the Staff of Incarceration and even overpowering the Demon Dragon, if only for a brief moment!
That wasn’t all, either. She enjoyed a sense of safety and more by Eugene’s side. Being cared for by the Saint with the dual personality was comforting, and she had to admit that even bickering with Mer over trivial conversations was fun.
She would be safe inside Eugene’s cloak, and she would never be in any danger. Raimira had heard tales of the Dukes of Helmuth and the Demon Kings, but if she really thought about it, aside from two dukes and two Demon Kings, who else posed a threat to Eugene Lionheart?
She found her own conclusion to be profoundly illuminating.
‘In truth, should this Lady venture alone, I must remain vigilant of hundreds, thousands of foes. But with benefactor Eugene by her side, who exists as a threat, save for the dukes and Demon Kings?’
What of the Demon King's army? She had not considered it. Instead, Raimira reveled in the brilliance of her own deduction.
"This Lady… This Lady will continue traveling with Benefactor even after the restrictions placed on me are gone.”
Eugene felt a stir of emotion upon hearing her response. Who could have expected such brave words? Discrimination against Mer? That was... unavoidable. Yet, it spurred in him a resolve to treat Raimira slightly better in the future.
"Scion of the Demonic Dragon... no, descendant of the Black Dragon. I, Ariartel, the Red Dragon, will respect your will." With those words, Ariartel approached Raimira. In a moment of flurry, Raimira attempted to retreat, but Ariartel reached out and grasped her shoulder.
"Ugh…."
Ariartel's face drew near Raimira's forehead toward the embedded red jewel. She examined the red jewel with wide, intent eyes.
"This is dreadful. Truly dreadful. Raizakia... how could that lunatic view dragons, his own kin, in such a way?"
The constraint suppressed so many aspects of her growth. In fact, Raimira would never become a dragon of merit even in centuries under the constraint.
Raizakia had desired this. He wanted neither a splendid daughter nor a proper dragon from Raimira. Instead, he had wished for an existence he could control and play with, lay eggs with, and then ultimately consume. Ariartel did not discern his true, horrific intentions but still felt genuine sympathy for Raimira's restriction.
"We shall begin now,” Ariartel said after observing the red gem.
"How long will it take?" asked Eugene.
"We will only know once it is completed. But even at the earliest, it will take at least four days,” answered Ariartel.
"I will come back to fetch you then," Eugene told Raimira.
Raimira looked at Eugene, startled by his response. "Are you leaving me here alone?"
"What can we do even if we stay? We'll come back later, so behave well."
"Don't cry out of loneliness without me," Mer added her piece, sticking her head out of the cloak.
Raimira gazed at Kristina with trembling eyes. Her look tugged at Kristina's heartstrings, but still, she had no intention of separating from Eugene to stay there.
What if Sienna crossed a daring line in her absence? Kristina and Anise were determined to prevent such an event at all costs.
Thus, Raimira ended up staying in that house for several days. The desperate cries of "Benefactor, Benefactor" echoed from the door as it closed, but Eugene did not even give a second glance.
"Time to finally make our return,” murmured Eugene with his back against the weathered house.
Their destination was the capital of Kiehl, Ceres, where the Lionheart’s main estate was located. Cyan, who had returned first, must have explained the circumstances somewhat, but….
He glanced at Sienna, her smile beaming by his side. How should he explain returning with the Wise Sienna...? What words would convince Patriarch Gillead, Ancilla, and the rest of the household?
"Speaking of which, Eugene, your biological father… he's still alive, isn't he?" asked Sienna.
"Yes."
"Then, on this visit, I should greet your father, shouldn't I?" she said, her voice quickening. She twisted a lock of her hair nervously as she continued. "I should bring a gift or—"
"Lord Gerhard enjoys fine food and drink," Kristina interjected casually. "Of course, I have met him in advance. We even shared a meal together before."
There was no taunting tone in her voice. Still, her unmistakable display of familiarity caused Sienna's eyes to quiver.
"...I'll go ahead."
Eugene had no desire to be caught in the crossfire of whatever was igniting between them. With a deep sigh, he quickly hurried his steps as if fleeing the scene.