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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Dressing Up the Dragon
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“Aaaah!”
The Evil Dragon Ater screamed upon spotting Nibelria, who had burst in without warning.
“...”
“...”
Arep and Solles were at a loss for words and froze in place, but Nibelria strode right inside.
She grabbed the scales at what she assumed was the nape of the Evil Dragon Ater's neck.
“Kkwek!”
“Ater! You're a dragon, right?”
“Kuhk! Th-that's true, but...?”
“I heard dragons are super smart. Is that right?”
The Evil Dragon Ater's eyes sparkled.
“The brat's finally saying something sensible for once.”
The Evil Dragon Ater shook off Nibelria's hand and shuddered its body.
“Indeed. I am the last dragon remaining on the earth. The Evil Dragon Ater, inheritor of the memories and knowledge of the previous Dragon Lord. There is almost nothing I do not know.”
“Then do you know where the mana stone is?”
Nibelria cut straight to the chase.
“Hand over the mana stone!”
“Did you leave something with me? You're grabbing me without any hesitation.”
“Um, do you really know where the mana stone is?”
Solles, who had approached cautiously, asked.
The Evil Dragon Ater hummed thoughtfully and swept a meaningful gaze over the children.
“I know.”
Hope lit up on the children's faces.
“But I can't just tell you for free.”
The Evil Dragon Ater flicked out its long tongue.
“A dragon's knowledge can turn mortals into immortals and elevate lowly crawling vermin into heroes who soar through the skies.”
“Nini doesn't wanna be a hero.”
“...That's not what I meant.”
The Evil Dragon Ater, who had been trying to set the mood for the first time in a while, deflated instantly.
“What I'm saying is, if you want my help, pay the appropriate price. Nothing in this world is free. Right?”
“But you're living at our house for free right now.”
“It's not free.”
The Evil Dragon Ater pointed to one spot on its scale-covered body.
Unlike the rest, that area was less covered in scales.
“I sacrificed my scales to protect you.”
“Nini never asked for that...”
“Doesn't matter if you didn't ask. Armifera begged me to protect you, and I'm doing even more than that right now.”
“Then get paid from Aunt.”
“I already got paid from your aunt. She freed me from Latro.”
Its thick tail wagged contentedly.
“And I'm doing another job on top of that.”
“What job?”
“Secret.”
The Evil Dragon Ater grinned mischievously, looking truly wicked like an evil dragon for the first time.
Furious, Nibelria smacked the back of the dragon's head with her palm.
“Evil!”
The dragon screamed and collapsed, but no one helped it.
Meanwhile.
“...”
“...”
Solles exchanged glances with Arep.
Soon, Arep lowered his head slightly and muttered sadly.
“I thought evil dragons were supposed to be really cool and awesome...”
“We must have had too high expectations. It probably doesn't know anything. Maybe it's not an evil dragon—just a lizard with wings.”
“Like a heroic prince saving people, a cool evil dragon...”
“Arep, don't be too heartbroken. It's just a pervert lizard that likes women's clothes. It wasn't the great evil dragon everyone praised.”
The two boys hugged each other.
“Hing...”
Nibelria, saddened along with them, hugged them tightly too.
“It's okay! Even without the evil dragon, Nini will find the mana stone!”
“Nini!”
“Miss...!”
The three embraced warmly.
Watching them silently, the Evil Dragon Ater snorted.
“Nice try, brats.”
Tsk.
Solles and Arep clicked their tongues in disappointment.
“Huh? Huh?”
Nibelria blinked, oblivious to the situation.
“Well, I'm not saying I won't help at all.”
The Evil Dragon Ater sauntered over casually.
Moving its legs slowly like a well-fed cat seeking a nap spot, it herded the children into its path.
“I rather like you kids, and I hold the Dayamor family in some regard.”
Perhaps through this bizarre thing, I can recover my distorted memories and true form.
To that precocious little saintess in particular.
The Evil Dragon Ater's eyes gleamed.
'There are traces of holy power within her.'
If those traces were real, Nibelria possessed saintess potential surpassing even her grandmother Muniel.
But Nibelria's body currently held nothing.
A faint aura remained, but it was like droplets clinging to a bucket that had carried water.
Hardly worthy of being called holy power.
Such traces were commonly found even in ordinary people.
'The maids caring for the brat actually have stronger holy power. Why are they working as maids?'
It was on par with average priests.
In any case, the Evil Dragon Ater had high expectations for Nibelria.
'This child might be the key to the solution.'
The Evil Dragon Ater's eyes sparkled.
“What will you give me in return?”
Nibelria's blue eyes blinked slowly.
“The last dragon on earth. If you desire my wisdom, which can reshape fate, offer a reward to my liking.”
“You know...”
Nibelria asked.
“Is a discount possible?”
“...”
“Like a friends-and-family discount. I learned about it at Mom's department store. We're acquaintances, so you can give me a discount, right?”
“...What a brat.”
Dether's stomach had been aching lately.
She wasn't the only one.
All the servants in the Dayamor mansion were suffering from headaches, toothaches, stomachaches, backaches, and all sorts of other pains.
The cause of the pain was singular.
My money...
Their assets deposited at Petra Bank.
That damn mustachioed pig bastard. Next time I see him, maybe I should skin him and roast him over charcoal.
The well-honed dagger hidden in her skirt wailed.
Dagger, calm down. I'll only draw you if our young miss's life is in danger. I swore it when I took off my Holy Knight uniform.
But the dagger shook its nonexistent head, protesting.
No, Mistress. Soak me in that pest's blood. Soak me prettily!
Sigh, I said no.
Dether, barely holding onto her reason, arrived at Nibelria's room before she knew it.
Before opening the door, she gently rubbed her cheeks with both hands.
With the recent atmosphere, even the young miss and young masters were on edge.
Her issue was personal; she couldn't let it show to the children.
Whew, good.
Dether entered with a bright smile.
“Miss. Young Masters.”
She froze the moment she saw the room.
“Ooh, this one's pretty cool, huh? What do you think?”
“Noo, not that! Wear this one! This looks more stylish!”
“The brat has decent taste. Fine, I'll take this and that. And pin that golden brooch on my hat right now.”
“Letty knows more about this stuff. Should I call her next time?”
Nibelria's room was a mess of dresses and accessories strewn everywhere.
As if thieves had broken in.
And in the center.
A full-length mirror from somewhere had been placed prominently, and the children were playing with the Evil Dragon Ater.
More precisely, they were picking out outfits for the Evil Dragon Ater.
The dragon, draped in Nibelria's clothes and jewelry, gazed at its reflection with satisfaction.
“...”
Dether wondered what on earth was going on.
“Dether.”
At that moment, Solles, who had sneaked up, beckoned her to listen.
“It's fine. Right now, we're protecting the empire.”
“Isn't a perverted dragon in a girl's dress with an old man's voice a bunch of problems?”
“I asked because I was worried too, but the evil dragon said its gender isn't set yet.”
The old man's voice was just imitating the most common one from the mercenary lands.
“...But what does protecting the empire mean?”
Solles grinned.
“It means we can protect Dether and all the servants' fortunes.”
Dether covered her mouth in感動.
“But it'll take some time.”
“How long?”
Dether asked.
“Probably...”
Solles calculated after measuring this and that.
“Next spring?”
The colorful autumn leaves began turning into fallen foliage.
By the time the Pellea Merchant Group arrived in western Latro, the branches were already half bare.
“We'll have to pick up the pace on the way back.”
A merchant group employee said while inspecting the freshly bought stone mushrooms' quality.
This winter was coming earlier and colder than usual. Late autumn had already set in.
If they dawdled even a little, the cold could delay their arrival in the capital.
While the employees bustled about.
“...Any questions?”
Armifera had contacted mercenaries representing each sector in advance and held a secret meeting.
To discuss reviving the declining mercenaries.
The mercenaries' faces were puzzled upon hearing Armifera's proposal.
Some looked displeased, others quietly weighed the pros and cons.
“Pantera.”
Someone called Armifera by her mercenary name.
“Is it realistically possible?”
“It is.”
Armifera said.
“But...”
Another muttered with unease.
“Corporatizing mercenaries...”
