What had I just done. Only after I closed the door behind me did the tension release. My knees nearly gave out.
I had bargained with Jed for full authority over dragon management.
First: Tame and report at least five monsters beyond the Karbe.
Second: Produce a Monster Handler’s Guide that all administrators can understand.
Third: Any contact with the dragon must be accompanied by at least one other administrator.
It felt like I’d been hooked cleanly through the nose. This world or the last—those at the top were always efficient at using laborers to the last scrap.
The first two conditions were things I would have done anyway. I couldn’t personally care for every monster forever, and I couldn’t allow idiots to keep feeding hay to a burning sheep.
The third condition was annoying, but better than being suspected of being a Rebel and living under threat.
More importantly—
“At this rate, when the hell am I going to see the dragon? Would it kill him to let me at least see the tail?”
I muttered at the closed office door.
He didn’t know how to handle subordinates. To manage people efficiently, one needed carrot and stick. Apparently he didn’t understand that universal truth. He would realize it only after losing a talent like me.
I buried the complaints quickly and thought about what I needed to do.
The 5th Facility had around twenty monster species. Over a hundred individuals. And no proper records. Each monster was vaguely assigned to lower-rank handlers.
Meaning: I would have to work my feet. Track down each handler—half idiots, half fools—and collect whatever information they had.
I’d rather shovel monster dung. The thought of interviewing dozens of humans made my stomach churn.
Was there no more efficient way? While dragging my heavy leather boots down the corridor, I spotted the one familiar face.
The orange-haired informant—Kallen.
She had caused me trouble, yes—but she had sharp eyes.
“Hey. You.”
In this world, using polite speech would only raise suspicion, so I called her as arrogantly as possible.
But Kallen simply gave me a frosty glare and kept walking. A sign that she didn’t consider someone suspected as a rebel to be her superior.
“Your name was... Curry, right.”
“What! It’s Kallen, Kallen!”
The orange head whirled around immediately. Her eyes still full of suspicion. An admirably bold insubordination.
I crooked a finger, and she approached with a face full of resentment. In better light, she looked at most in her late teens—maybe twenty.
Other administrators were wrinkled or bearded. A rare fresh character here.
Was this brat disrespectful because she lacked sense—or because she didn’t know better? Time to evaluate.
“We need to compile a full list of all monsters in the facility. Rank, characteristics, abilities, approximate admission date, any training history, injury sites and abnormal reactions.”
“And?”
“Can you compile it?”
Now, let’s see.
Kallen blinked, confused—then thought briefly before answering.
“...Rank, characteristics, abilities, injury sites or abnormal reactions I can collect. Admission dates would only be estimates. Training history is unknown.”
Well now. That felt like digging up a gemstone in a field of idiots. I restrained the satisfied curve of my mouth.
I spoke again in my newly acquired clear, commanding tone:
“That’s good enough. Bring it tomorrow.”
“What? W-wait! I’ve only been employed for a month!”
“Consider this a learning opportunity.”
“That’s not—there’s no way! How am I supposed to compile all that in one day?!”
Her voice rang sharp and indignant. Her face was rising to match her hair.
If she had just guided me to the dragon quietly yesterday, life would be sweet for both of us. I’d be embracing my jackpot reptile, and she’d live comfortably.
“Is this disobeying an order?”
“No...”
“If needed, should I report your response to Jed?”
I returned the very same line she used on me last night. Kallen shook, shoulders trembling, then turned and hurried away, skirt swishing.
Watching her, I drifted briefly into memories of my previous world.
My academic advisor, always trying to drag me to graduate school. And when that failed, they tried to delay my graduation.
I’d despised them for it. Now I finally understood.
***
The next day, late afternoon, Kallen returned carrying a stack of papers. Her face was pale # Nоvеlight # and exhausted, but the result exceeded expectations.
Each page documented one monster species—organized neatly. Even sorted alphabetically.
“I pulled an all-nighter to finish what you asked. I can go now, right?”
What? Do the work well and try to run? Oh no, I wasn’t letting her go.
“Wait.”
“Haa, please...”
“Pick the single most difficult monster to train. Excluding the dragon.”
Her tired orange eyes sharpened immediately. She bit her lip, thinking, then answered.
“Of course, Noak. If you’re not careful, you lose it easily, and it has almost as little known information as the dragon.”
At that, I flipped directly to the page.
─────
[Basic Information]
■ Name: Noak
■ Rank: D-rank
■ Number of Specimens: One
■ Discovery Location: Lydia Abandoned Mine
■ Current Handling Status: Isolated
■ Containment Location: Special Observation Room, small containment cage
[Characteristics]
■ Appearance: Dark gray-brown glossy scales; body length approx. 20 cm. Matte-black eyes. Micro grip pads present at toe tips.
■ Recorded Ability: Shadow Absorption
■ Abnormal Response: Immobile for ~8 hours after a single flash exposure.
─────
My heart pounded. Dark gray-brown scales with gloss?
“...A lizard.”
A lizard that absorbs shadows? I didn’t have time to waste. I grabbed a cloak to block the night chill and stood.
“We’re starting with Noak.”
Kallen shook her head furiously. So I shrugged, meaning come or don’t, and walked out.
Sure enough, I soon heard footsteps rushing across the grass behind me.
“Even if you’re Ceryl, you can’t just use me like that! I have my own assigned monsters!”
Fair point. She did have duties. Even as a Senior Administrator, dragging staff around was questionable.
“Kallen, do you know what authority I have?”
I genuinely asked.
To her, it probably sounded like: Do you even know how important I am?
“Execution authority over monsters, and authority over the disposal of their corpses.”
“That’s it?”
“Well... since you’re special rank, you also have personnel authority. Including punishing lower administrators like me...”
Kallen’s voice trailed off as she remembered her own insubordination. But only one term echoed in my ears:
Personnel authority.
Sweet, powerful words. I thanked Ceryl—this was a valuable card.
I stopped walking and turned. Kallen, uncharacteristically, looked uncertain.
“Kallen. As of today, you’re my assistant.”
“What—really? Then my pay—”
“Better than a lower administrator’s.”
I should show Jed how it’s done. This is how you use carrot and stick.
At my one sentence, Kallen’s eyes widened as if they’d pop out.
“But what if Jed doesn’t approve?”
“Jed assigned me a task. I need you for it. So it’s a special promotion.”
“That’s... unbelievable... Don’t take it back!”
“You better not run away just because it gets hard.”
Kallen’s breath trembled with joy. Yes. A servant’s place is under the right master.
“It feels like a dream. I’ll be able to execute monsters myself!”
The warm mood froze instantly. I nearly smiled—Kallen’s surprisingly competent timing prevented it.
“One day, I want to kill the dragon in the basement with my own hands.”
This little brat. Talking about killing my dragon before I’ve even seen it.
So much for good eyesight—Kallen was too excited to notice my expression going cold.
Her happiness was almost a shame. I considered retracting the appointment.
“If I can personally end the last bloodline of Dravergh, my parents would be proud.”
But at those words, what I’d been about to say stuck in my throat.
Dravergh was the royal dragon clan. And their last heir was the one monster I had hated most in the original work.
Because he had sided with humans and helped slaughter monsters—an idiot among idiots.
“Varen is here?”
Kallen blinked innocently.
“...Huh? Who’s Varen?”
