My jaw dropped open at the sheer absurdity. Where was I even supposed to start correcting this?
He kills people because I was worried? Massacres them? And stands there that confidently?
This damned dragon. I told him to go home and learn basic upbringing from his parents, but at this rate, my sanity might collapse before we even reach his homeland.
Stress prickled across my forehead. Scratching my itchy brow, I looked up at Varen.
“V—no, Scalecrusher. I get how you feel, but even so, killing everyone at the Facility is....”
Everyone at the Facility was dead.
When Varen said it, it sounded absurd. But once the words left my own mouth, it felt real.
Everyone at the Facility was dead.
“...Did you really kill them all?”
“Yes.”
“N-not a single one left? All of them?”
Even with the unease in my voice, Varen’s expression didn’t change. He just nodded blankly.
Faces of the Facility staff flashed through my mind.
Among them were humans who tormented monsters on purpose, and idiots who caused pain without meaning to.
And Rozie, who cooked diligently every day; Xeros, who quietly brought in produce; Penny, who taught me flower names.
The Monster Containment Facility was a state institution. Orphans that nearby cities couldn’t shelter sometimes ended ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) up here. For example—
“...Kallen.”
I muttered numbly at the unbelievable news.
“Kallen? Who is that.”
“She’s a young girl. Orange hair, small, thin. Did you see her, by any chance?”
“A girl?”
“Yeah. About this tall. She’d probably be wearing a white uniform. She wears the same thing every day.”
My words grew faster with anxiety. Varen bent down to look me in the face, tilting his head.
“What’s she to you.”
It was a question I could’ve answered blandly—my subordinate. Yet guilt closed my throat.
When I saw the Facility burning, I hadn’t thought of Kallen. All I cared about was saving the monsters trapped in their pens.
And this was the result.
“If you’re worried, we can go back to the Facility.”
The words jolted me upright; I grabbed Varen’s wrist. He looked down at the hand gripping him, his face emotionless.
“N-no. I just... I just hope she’s alive....”
“You sound worried. Worried she might be alive.”
“...What?”
“Go check. If—though unlikely—any humans survived, I’ll kill them.”
Varen spoke as if commenting on whether he should bother with a meal. Completely emotionless.
My hands and feet turned ice-cold. A formless dread churned in my stomach.
“...Why do you want to kill them all?”
“Is that not what I should do.”
The way he reacted—as if asking something obvious—left me speechless. My mouth opened and closed several times without forming an answer.
Seeing me falter, Varen lowered his gaze in thought. Sweat collected on my palm where I held his wrist.
A moment later, he looked straight into my eyes. His blue pupils were steady, unshaking.
“Humans kidnapped me before I even hatched. Knowing nothing, guilty of nothing, they dragged me here and tortured me for my entire life.”
His flat voice struck my throat like a clog of ice.
Should I say he did well to avenge himself after a lifetime of human torture? Or should I reprimand him for killing everyone when not all deserved it? Or should I blame him for killing Kallen?
I was neither judge nor sage. I couldn’t weigh whose sins were heavier or declare what justice was.
But there was one thing I did know.
“...Okay. I understand.”
Humans had no right to lecture a dragon. No right to resent him. Humans least of all—and especially not me.
“Ceryl, your expression is poor.”
Varen tilted his head, studying my face. His terrifyingly innocent expression held not a drop of guilt.
I forced a stiff smile.
“No, don’t worry. It’s dangerous—you don’t need to go anywhere.”
I let go of his wrist and tapped his thick forearm instead, smiling as casually as I could. My fist clenched where it had touched him.
“You didn’t actually see Kallen die, right?”
“That’s right.”
“...Then that’s enough.”
It would be nearly impossible to survive that inferno. Even so, I clung to a sliver of hope.
At the very least, dying the same way as her parents would be too cruel. To die meaningless, swallowed by dragonfire, without even understanding why.
If there were a god, I prayed it wouldn’t be so merciless. Just once—grant mercy. Pathetic, wicked humans only look for gods in moments like this.
“Ceryl, if you’re worried, I’ll kill the rest of the humans as well.”
“...That’s not what I meant.”
“You said the Defense Corps and Dragon Hunters are out there too.”
Lost in thoughts of Kallen, I froze as I remembered the other threats still roaming.
Last night, a golden dragon had made the most extravagant debut imaginable. Naturally, every moth in the kingdom would be swarming the forest by now.
“Yeah... after that mess, half a day has passed. They’ve probably reached the forest already.”
“You’re worried. If I burn down the forest—”
“And kill all the monsters living there too? The ones who live here—AAAH! Rami!”
In the chaos of shocks and uproar since dawn, I had completely, utterly forgotten.
I’m insane, damn it!
I hurriedly tapped my right pocket with a gentle voice.
“Rami. Rami? Are you in here?”
At this distance, she should’ve popped out with a hyiung! but there was nothing. My fingertips trembled. I couldn’t bear losing anyone else.
“Where’s my baby? Come to Dad.”
“Dad? You had a child?”
“Rami? Baby, come out. Please?”
“Ceryl, you—!”
I ignored his useless comments and focused entirely on calling Rami.
After tapping my pocket for a while, I felt a tiny bulge push outward.
“...H-hyiung....”
Rami trembled violently, barely poking the tip of her snout outside the pocket. Scared half to death but still reporting she was alive.
Why was my tiny, precious firstborn so terrified?
“Ceryl! Why aren’t you answering me?”
“H-hyiung... hyiung....”
Varen raised his voice sharply; the little snoot that had been peeking out vanished instantly.
Now that I understood the culprit, I glared at Varen with axe eyes. She had never been this scared before—his world-burning display last night must have traumatized her horribly.
“Back up. My baby’s scared.”
“Baby? What are you—”
Seeing no intention of him moving, I walked away myself. I warned him not to follow and strode deeper into the forest.
Once far enough from Varen, I tapped my pocket again.
“Rami, you can come out now. The scary scaly one is gone.”
“...Hyiung!”
Rami shot out of the pocket and latched onto my face like a sticker. I guess her comfort behavior is sticking to my face when anxious.
Cute, but I couldn’t see anything. I felt her bean-sized heart pounding against my eyelids.
“Rami, I’m happy to see you too, but I can’t see.”
“Hyiung, hyiung. Hyuuuung.”
The whiny tremble in her voice made me laugh. My heavy mood loosened a little.
When I set Rami in my palm, the tiny reptile rubbed her forehead against my chin, pouring out affection.
“Rami, I’m glad you’re safe. Did the others escape well?”
“Hyiung!”
Her bright affirmation finally let my tight lungs expand. At least the monsters were safe. I’d protected them. My nose prickled.
Once the giant reptile was out of sight, Rami regained confidence and fluttered to the ground. When I squatted, she started sending me mysterious signals.
She shook her head side to side, pointed left with her tail, spun in one direction, then pointed right with her tail.
What in the world...? I tried deciphering it but failed.
Then, without warning, Varen approached silently and tossed out:
“Gronia went to the western desert, and Luto headed for the eastern fields.”
Gronia was the Armored Elephant who kept swinging her head; Luto, the Gray Wolf who circled one spot endlessly.
Both monsters suffered severe stress symptoms in confinement.
At the appearance of the giant reptile, Rami darted back into my pocket. I stared at Varen in shock.
“You... understand what Rami’s saying?”
“Is that not obvious. Humans understand humans—why wouldn’t I understand a monster.”
Varen snorted disdainfully.
Hearing that, Rami peeked her head out.
“Hyiung!”
“She says the Facility monsters evacuated safely, so you needn’t worry.”
“Hyiung!”
“They’re each returning to where they originally lived.”
“Hyiung!”
“Homing instinct is a monster instinct—hey, little one, are you using me?”
Varen bared his teeth, growling.
Rami, emboldened by having a strong backer, scrambled up onto my shoulder, lowered her body, and lifted her tail defensively.
A tiny reptile and a giant reptile locked into an intense staring match. Apparently, I was the judge of this bizarre contest.
“Hey, stop. You’re not using your size properly.”
I pushed Varen’s forehead back with my index finger; he looked wounded by the gesture.
Rami ostentatiously pressed her forehead to my cheek and rubbed. When I stroked her back with the same finger I’d pushed Varen with, her long black tail swayed sweetly.
“Oh, look at you. So cute. Kiss.”
Having learned the word kiss, Rami pressed her tiny snout to my lips.
“...What are you doing!!!”
Varen let out a thunderous scream.
