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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Tiny Fist
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The black kitten they had met in the forest was none other than another form of the Evil Dragon Ater.
Dragons possessed the ability to transform into various shapes. People worshiped this power, calling it polymorph or shape-shifting.
However, the Evil Dragon Ater, who hadn't even reached six months of age, could only take the form of a kitten.
To say nothing of changing its fur color.
"Just thinking back to that moment makes my heart feel like it's going to burst out even now. That insolent thing... trying to kill the good dragon who came to help him!"
The Evil Dragon Ater grumbled on and on.
Riding in the carriage to the Magic Tower kindergarten weren't just Nibelria, Arep, and Dether.
"He's surprisingly chatty."
Armifera, the children's aunt.
"You say that because you didn't go through it! Your nephew tried to kill me! He said he'd rip out this little neck and finish me off!"
And the Evil Dragon Ater was with them too.
The dragon, freed from its cage, had returned to its original form.
Today's outfit for the Evil Dragon was a purple cape and lace anklets.
They were prettily wrapped around its front paws and secured with adorable bead pins.
'Come to think of it, dragons like shiny things, right?'
Dether secretly wondered if the dragon's habit of dressing up was part of that taste.
"Auntie and lizard, why go to Magic Tower? Kindergarten?"
Nibelria asked, swinging her chubby legs.
Armifera pointed to the dragon comfortably leaning against her lap.
"To introduce him to the Magic Tower Lord."
In truth, they were heading there to check the curse on the Magic Tower Lord.
"The Magic Tower Lord... with the Evil Dragon..."
Arep trailed off.
Over time, he'd realized the Evil Dragon wasn't as evil as he'd thought.
But it was also true that Majia had trembled in rage at the mere thought of the Evil Dragon.
"I know he hates me."
The Evil Dragon itself took the fact in stride.
"But still, I have to go and talk to him first. Clashing heads like that, eventually the wall will break down."
"If wall breaks, it hurts."
It hurts if you get hurt.
Nibelria said.
"...Still, you have to clash."
If you avoid it because it hurts, the wall will forever block your path.
With that, the Evil Dragon closed its eyes.
But its front paws, hidden beneath the cape, were trembling.
"It's okay, it's okay."
Nibelria stroked the Evil Dragon's head.
Arep also tentatively reached out and patted its back.
When Armifera arrived at the Magic Tower.
"My sparkling water! You pretty unfilial girl!"
The Magic Tower Lord Majia happily came down to the first floor to greet Armifera.
He adored her so much—the one who could turn building owner Ardores Dayamor's lungs inside out.
"Grandfather, look who I brought."
But the moment he saw the kitten in the cage Armifera was carrying.
"......"
Majia's expression twisted into something foul, like he'd bitten into something bitter.
Nibelria and Arep only saw that much before heading to the kindergarten.
"Think they can make up?"
Nibelria said, swinging her hand clasped with Arep's.
"It'd be good if they could."
"Right?"
Since she liked Majia a bit more, Nibelria figured it was fine if things went his way.
If they couldn't reconcile, she could just comfort the Evil Dragon when they got home.
"Then, Arep! See you later!"
"Miss, see you later."
Nibelria and Arep parted ways in front of the kindergarten door.
Arep had started attending classes at the 'academy' recently.
The Magic Tower had not only a kindergarten but also an academy for older children.
Arep was too old for kindergarten. So after quickly picking up the basics, he'd moved up to the academy.
"Teacher, hello!"
Nibelria entered the kindergarten alone and greeted cheerfully.
"Hello, Nini. Oh my, your hair is tied so prettily today?"
"Dether did it!"
Nibelria learned many things at kindergarten.
She practiced drawing straight lines with crayons on worksheets from the teacher or connecting round, snail-like patterns without lifting the pencil.
And today, she completed a piece called 'What bugs can you see in summer?' by sticking insect stickers on a big flower picture.
"Phew."
Done for today too.
Nibelria nodded slowly, looking at her finished work with her friends.
"Hey."
Then, a boy with short brown hair approached.
Nibelria stared at him blankly.
The boy flinched at eye contact and quickly looked away.
Then, suddenly irritated, he glared at Nibelria.
His eyes were full of inexplicable annoyance and spite.
"You friendly with the Magic Tower Lord?"
Nibelria pondered poking those eyes with her finger before answering.
"Yeah."
In the old days, she'd have already thrown a punch.
'Can't hit recklessly.'
The well-taught Nibelria behaved wisely.
She'd seen innocent people apologize because of her actions. She now knew she couldn't just act on impulse.
"But why?"
"Liar! Why would the Magic Tower Lord be friends with a kid like you?"
Disbelief filled the boy's face.
"Friends with Grandma and Grandpa."
Nibelria and Arep were attending kindergarten while hiding their Dayamor family origins.
They didn't hide having non-mage parents, though.
Because even children of mages often couldn't use magic.
Mages were a matter of talent, not bloodline.
Still, children of mages had a slightly higher chance of awakening that talent.
In fact, several children with mage talent were in the kindergarten and academy.
The boy snapping at Nibelria out of nowhere was one such case.
This boy was a mage.
"And the Magic Tower Lord is..."
The Magic Tower Lord is Nini's subordinate!
She wanted to say that.
"...Anyway, friends with Grandma and Grandpa."
Nibelria had some tact.
The Magic Tower Lord was the boss leading the Magic Tower. She couldn't undermine his authority.
Nibelria didn't reveal the truth for her subordinate Majia's sake.
Protecting your underlings was what a boss did.
"But why?"
Now it was Nibelria's turn.
"Why ask?"
"...Weird."
"What?"
"You're not even a mage, but you're here."
At those words, the non-mage kids naturally turned to look at the boy.
Feeling their gazes, he hurriedly changed his tune.
"W-we at least have mage parents, but you don't."
"Yeah. Don't."
"So why are you here?"
"......"
Nibelria had nothing to say.
Not because she was scared or upset, but because she couldn't understand why this cheeky kid was picking a fight out of the blue.
"Alec, why are you like this?"
The other kids felt the weirdness too.
They stepped forward, surrounding Nibelria protectively.
Nibelria had somehow become the youngest in the kindergarten. Everyone treated her like a little sister.
"Why say mean things to Nini?"
"Yeah. Nini didn't do anything."
"You're older, a big brother, so don't bully your little sister."
Overwhelmed by the united front of her friends, the boy Alec panicked greatly.
He looked like he hadn't anticipated this reaction at all.
But soon, he shouted loudly to seize control.
"B-but she's cheeky! Living with us when she's not even a mage! So brazen!"
His bellowing hurt Nibelria's ears.
So she simply clenched her fist.
"Shut up!"
The adorable little fist landed squarely on Alec's philtrum.
The skill that had once struck heroes' hearts with cat punches hadn't dulled.
While Nibelria got caught in needless trouble.
"So..."
Majia glared at the descendant of the Evil Dragon who had cursed him with immortality 180 years ago, looking ready to tear it apart.
And the Evil Dragon Ater buried its face in Armifera's embrace.
"My curse might not actually be a curse?"
"Th-the curse is real, probably..."
The infant dragon, less than six months old, trembled in a low, crawling voice.
"However, it might not be a curse from an Evil Dragon. From my conversation with the Saintess, there's a possibility."
"Since you say so, I'll hold back for now."
Armifera calmed Majia.
Majia glanced at Armifera's granddaughter-like face and finally restrained his killing intent.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
"I made a fool of myself in front of you."
"It's fine. It's that important, after all."
Armifera smiled understandingly and gently stroked the Evil Dragon's head.
Only then did the Evil Dragon Ater muster the courage to peek out.
"F-first, let's look at the pattern left by the curse."
Any spell or curse left a magical pattern behind.
"Haa..."
Majia stood and removed his top shirt.
