Chapter 173: Side Story 10 |
Drea’s face, which had suddenly returned to its human form, contorted in an instant.
The child spoke firmly:
“Absolutely not. If you touch Shaik, even Grandma won’t stay still.”
Upon hearing this, Drea’s words of resistance and tension made Deme smile.
“If I don’t stay still?”
“If you’re curious, go ahead and touch him! Just remember that it will lead to a war with the Fairy tribe! And with humans too!”
“That’s right, don’t you dare think about touching our Shaik!”
Even Gaia, who had been silent, stood up angrily.
Looking at Drea and Gaia, Deme became intrigued.
Who was he, that touching him would lead to a war between the fairies with humans?
“Shaik… come to think of it, there was someone with the same name. It was a long time ago.”
Even after hundreds of years, Deme vividly recalled the image of a young man with black hair.
To her, he was both a nemesis and a benefactor.
Pushing aside the fleeting memories in his mind, Demetri casually asked in an unaffected voice:
“So, you’re saying this child named Shaik is somehow related to the fairies and humans?”
“He’s Fairy King’s lineage and is the son of the hero who put an early end to the Holy Demon War!”
“Oh… that means the one who ended the Holy Demon War had some connection to the Fairy King’s lineage?”
As soon as Drea started to nod emphatically, she suddenly closed her mouth.
She realized that she had said too much about Shaik all of a sudden.
“Um… I won’t tell you that!”
Instead of saying more, Drea created a storm like the one she had used during her fight with the five dragons earlier.
The earth, wind, fire, air, and lightning intertwined and spun into a whirlwind.
“No, is this little one going to attack now?”
“How bold!”
Several dragons who had been standing behind Deme chuckled in response to Drea’s provocation.
Instead of answering, Drea raised both hands, making the most intimidating expression she could muster.
Kwaaang!
Five combined forces of lightning struck the ground, splitting it apart.
It was excessively destructive for the power of a mere nine-year-old.
However, it wasn’t enough to startle the old dragon.
Deme chuckled leisurely and spread her large wings, fluttering them.
Behind his human-like body, her massive wings spread wide.
“Would you like to experience it?”
Drea hesitated for a moment at the overwhelming size of the wings but didn’t back down as she spoke.
“Grandma, I came here because I have something I want.”
“Something you want?”
“Yes. It’s a flower called Nocorium that only blooms here. If, by any chance, I impress you by persistently annoying you, would it be possible for you to give me that flower instead of asking for the life of my imprinter?”
The dragons who had been watching laughed and chuckled.
Nocorium was a fairly common flower within the sacred grounds.
However, it was also a flower that never grew outside the sacred grounds.
While it would likely bloom in the forest of the vibrant fairies, no matter how many times its seeds were transferred to the fairy forest, it wouldn’t bloom.
The white flower was quite beautiful, but it had little use for dragons and there was no special effect for humans.
Demet chuckled while listening to Drea’s words and asked:
“Is someone suffering from a fever?”
Startled, Drea’s eyes widened.
Even that expression looked adorable to Deme.
In her eyes, Drea was truly a tiny baby.
Seeing that baby causing chaos in the Dragon Sanctuary for someone’s sake, he felt a desire to tease her.
‘Oh, it seems I’m not so different from those kids.’
Thinking of the five dragons he had been teasing earlier, Deme sighed.
The small White Dragon of unknown origin.
Even if she searched the entire world, the number of White Dragons couldn’t fill both hands.
That’s why if someone had laid an egg, it couldn’t go unnoticed.
But no matter how much she thought about it, there was no dragon that laid an egg ten years ago.
‘…Who is that child?’
Demetri carefully observed Drea with narrowed eyes.
Her long white hair fluttered, giving off a purple gleam.
Her eyes were an adorable pink color unseen anywhere else, and her white, smooth, and translucent skin resembled the scales of a White Dragon.
She recalled the appearance of Drea when she had manifested just a little while ago.
Now she had grown to the point where she could easily surpass the height of an average adult male.
She looked like she had only lived for about ten years.
If she reached adulthood, she would probably grow to six times her current size like other dragons.
She was a beautiful child with a white mane of hair that shimmered with a faint purple gleam and pretty white scales.
It seemed she had met a good imprinter, as she had grown remarkably.
‘What a fascinating child. I can sense some kind of energy from her. It would be good to investigate further.’
Deme made up her mind and took another step forward, speaking.
“Very well, my child. I will grant your request. I will use only 10% of my power, and you should use your full strength. If you manage to attack me even a little or tickle me, you can take what you desire to your heart’s content.”
“Really?”
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
“Then don’t regret it!”
With an excited expression, Drea returned to her original form.
The magical artifacts she had received from Simon and Kalia were activated on Drea’s arms and legs.
Gaia, who had been observing the situation, took a step back.
Drea and Gaia exchanged glances.
Just as Kalia had done before, Drea intended to use Gaia as a weapon of reversal.
Gaia understood Drea’s intentions.
“Oh, they’re excellent weapons.”
Even Deme was somewhat surprised by the release of magical power that erupted explosively.
To think that she carried such rare items with her.
She became even more curious about who had raised that child.
Deme smiled and flapped her wings, soaring into the sky.
“Now, let’s play to our heart’s content.”
“I’m going!”
The dragons who had been watching took their respective positions and looked up at the sky with curious eyes.
Dragons as precious as the Whites themselves were fighting.
“Does anyone have corn snacks?”
“Oh, I’ll bring it! Someone bring out some corn!”
“I have some! Butter for the dragon?”
“Me, me!”
The Red Dragon handed out the butter, and the Green Dragon produced the corn, which the Gold Dragon expertly deep-fried with perfect flame control.
Buttered corn snacks burst open with a sizzling sound.
The dragons, with small bites, eagerly looked up at the sky.
Above, colorful magical flames were bursting and exploding.
* * *
12 hours had already passed since Drea left.
Shaik’s fever kept fluctuating, rising and falling repeatedly.
But no matter how much the fever subsided, it never went below 38 degrees.
Fortunately, it didn’t exceed 41 degrees either.
Although she was worried about the sick Shaik, Kalia couldn’t help but worry about Drea, who had left for the dragons’ sanctuary alone. She couldn’t find a moment of rest.
Simon and the fairy family were struggling, each trying to find a different solution.
“…I feel so helpless.”
Kalia had never felt such a sense of powerlessness in her entire life. The feeling of not being able to do anything made her feel as if the sky was collapsing in on her.
She sat by Shaik’s side, wiping the sweat from the boy’s forehead, and prayed to the God she had never sought before.
‘Please, do not take away the future of these children.’
Kalia had never blamed God even when she was young. But if anything were to happen to Shaik and Drea, she would come to resent God.
And that resentment would grow so strong that she would cause a disturbance in search of God by any means necessary.
Of course, not everything was part of God’s plan, but still… If Shaik’s suffering was due to a divine fever and Drea had left to alleviate that fever, then…
“Haah.”
Kalia let out a shallow sigh, and at that very moment, Shaik, who had been breathing heavily, lifted his weak eyelids.
“Mother.”
“Shaik, are you awake? Are you thirsty?”
Kalia immediately brought water to Shaik’s lips.
After Shaik took a sip of the lukewarm water she offered, he quietly lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled.
“Mother…”
“Why are you saying that, Shaik?”
“…I was having a dream.”
“Dream?”
“Yes. While dreaming… Suddenly, I realized I missed you, Mother. But when I opened my eyes, there you were.”
“Is that so? Mother is always by your side, Shaik.”
Shaik slowly closed and opened his eyes as he smiled.
“…Yes, that’s right. I’m so… grateful, Mother. Thank you.”
“What are you talking about? It’s obvious.”
“Meeting Mother and Father… No, meeting our family… It’s just so…”
Shaik, as if unable to speak, tightly sealed his lips.
With a dry throat, he struggled to swallow his saliva.
As if gathering his courage, the boy spoke words he had never uttered before.
“…I’m happy. Really. Being born as the child of Mother and Father, meeting everyone… I’m truly happy.”
Upon hearing Shaik’s words of happiness, Kalia suddenly felt warmth welling up in her eyes.
Why is he saying something like this?
Kalia wrinkled her nose slightly and kissed Shaik’s warm forehead, smiling.
Her moist eyes were obscured by a smile.
“You will be even happier in the future. So, Shaik, let’s get up quickly and have dinner. Our baby is strong.”
“Yes. I’m strong because of you.”
Shaik smiled, mimicking Kalia’s words.
Has there ever been a time when the phrase ‘You are strong’ sounded so tender?
It was a word filled with pure concern, without any burden or obligation.
‘Yes, that’s right. I am strong.’
That fact made her unexpectedly happy.
She was fortunate to be strong.
She quickly brushed away her worries and got up, wanting to ease the concern in her eyes.
Shaik’s eyes gradually closed again.
“I… just… need to sleep a little more. Because… it’s too… hot.”
“Yes, Shaik. Just a little more, a tiny bit more, and then you’ll wake up, okay?”
“Yes… But Mother…”
Shaik’s eyes, which had been closed, opened again.
With a weak turn of his head, the boy glanced around the room and furrowed his brow gently before asking.
“What about Drea…?”
