Spring Flowers (1)

In the season of spring, when colorful spring flowers decorate the hills and the fragrance fills the air, Rurin’s 800th birthday is just three days away.

Even so, she only started celebrating her birthday after meeting me. Before that, she said she had no sense of her birthday.

It was her first birthday after we met.

Back then, the spring flowers were also in full bloom.

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“What is this?”

“This is a birthday cake.”

For dragons, except for the coming-of-age ceremony on their 800th birthday, the day they were born has no special meaning. I learned that from the Elder while asking about Rurin’s birth date.

“Well, since the lair is gone, we should at least celebrate your birthday.”

A small lair inherited from Rurin’s mother.

It was destroyed right before our eyes.

With Rurin completely dejected and curled up, I thought of something to cheer her up, and a birthday cake came to mind.

“I don’t know anything about that.”

At this time, Rurin had zero energy. It was a period when she was steeped in gloom from spending so much time alone.

The lair was destroyed, but the spring flowers in the forest were in full bloom, making it more memorable. How could I forget the scene of petals falling beautifully onto the candles on the cake?

The number of candles was counted as one hundred each for the long ones.

“Our custom is to blow out the candles, eat the cake, and give gifts. Come on.”

I pushed the cake in front of Rurin, who was crouching.

“Rurin, this is sweet.”

Looking back, she was a foodie even then. The word ‘sweet’ piqued her interest, and she lifted her head slightly.

“Alright, I’ll sing a song. Ahem, Rurin Rurin, happy birthday, happy birthday, congratulations to our Rurin who doesn’t suit that sullen expression!”

Thinking about it now, it’s a bit cringy. I sang the birthday song alone.

And I had Rurin blow out the candles.

“Is it good?”

“It’s sweet!”

Rurin nodded, eating the cake and getting cream all over her cheeks and mouth.

So I put a gold bracelet, which dragons like, on her wrist. After that, the gifts continued to be gold bracelets.

Until I gave her earrings before.

“This is…”

“It’s a gift. Humans give presents on birthdays.”

“What is this? It sparkles.”

Rurin kept looking at the gold bracelet, then at me, then back at the bracelet. I don’t know what she was thinking at the time.

“Rurin, I’m leaving. I can’t stay here forever.”

“…Do as you please.”

Rurin lowered her head again at my words. I vividly remember her fiddling with the gold bracelet I had just given her.

At this time, Rurin didn’t cling to me or anything. But for some reason, I didn’t feel like leaving her behind. We had already spent a lot of time together.

Her occasional lively smile was so pretty. Now that the lair was gone, she would shrink even more.

So I grabbed Rurin’s arm and lifted her up.

“Want to come with me? I’m going to hunt some dragons. After that, I’ll live as I please.”

But Rurin didn’t answer. She looked at me with an expressionless gaze.

“Here, look.”

I cast a spell on the forest opposite the destroyed dragon lair. I exploded trees and leveled the ground, digging deeper and deeper.

Then groundwater gushed out.

When cold groundwater gathered in the dug ground, yes, this was the origin of the hot springs I sometimes created.

“Destroy it if you want, or throw it away if you want!”

*Splash! *

I threw Rurin into the water hole and jumped in myself. I remember it being very cold.

“Let’s live freely. Stop looking like you’re alone in the world. Fool. It’s funny that a dragon can’t do anything. Come on!”

When I splashed cold water on Rurin’s face, she shivered.

“What are you doing!”

Then she exploded with anger, creating a whirlpool of water.

Boom!

The water hole exploded like it was hit by a bomb, and all the water shot up and poured down on me.

So I told her.

“See, isn’t it fun to let your temper out?”

“……”

The problem was that the emotion was anger. Rurin panted and then looked back at me.

“Why… even though I tried to kill you, though I couldn’t, why are you always by my side? I…”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to think about such things. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so I just live as I please. So, let’s leave. From this tiresome place. If I have to talk to the Elder to take you with me, let him come at me. Hehe. Okay? Let’s go!”

Then I splashed water on her face again, and a loud shout was heard.

“It’s so cold!”

It’s a very common shout now, but back then, it was a little different. It was almost the first time she expressed herself so freely.

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.

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The old memories are still vivid. Seeing the spring flowers on the hill reminds me of the countless petals falling into the water hole back then.

That same person has become very lively now. She never hides her emotions.

That’s why she is childlike and cute, sometimes beautiful, and sometimes funny.

“What are you thinking about? A Dragon has come, and you didn’t even acknowledge it. You’re becoming more and more arrogant! You rascal.”

A word that breaks my reverie and thoughts.

When I came to my senses, a black-haired man was standing in front of me.

“Elder?”

It was Medidana, the Elder of the Black Dragons.

Come to think of it, I thought it was about time. With Rurin’s birthday just around the corner, he would come to check on the lair as promised.

Of course, part of me thought he might not show up because of the threats I made back then.

“Why, did you think I wouldn’t show up?”

Like a dragon who has lived for thousands of years, he read my expression and muttered a piercing remark.

“Seems so.”

“You rascal, not bothering you and Rurin is one thing, but this is separate. Rurin’s coming-of-age ceremony and the lair are just Dragon regulations. Are you going to deny that Rurin is a Dragon? Are you trying to completely alienate her from the Dragon world?”

“No, of course not.”

“She must be recognized as an adult to marry and have offspring.”

Medidana said, crossing his arms, and I had nothing to say.

No longer having guys like Nies around and Rurin being recognized as an adult are definitely different things.

Even if she isn’t recognized, we can just live together forever.

If that forever ends unilaterally.

For example, if I die first, I can’t leave Rurin as a half-dragon.

Moreover, dragons can only have children after the coming-of-age ceremony.

“Then, shall we take a look around the lair? It seems you’ve met the deadline.”

The Elder looked at me with a faint smile, as if wondering why I wasn’t showing him the lair already.

So I led him inside.

Medidana honestly admired the lair as he looked around, especially impressed with the storerooms, the human-shaped bedrooms, and the wine cellar.

“This is… impressive.”

Indeed.

It’s not just me patting myself on the back.

Honestly, I believe you can’t easily find a lair decorated to this extent. Usually, a lair is just an empty space where a large dragon can sleep in.

After touring the lair, I finally led him to the most important room – the main chamber.

“This is where she can return to her true form. Rurin doesn’t like becoming a dragon, but the stability has been verified with other dragons.”

When I mentioned that Sereina had played a pointless prank, Medidana frowned and asked,

“Is that so? It’s large and grand. But something is lacking.”

Lacking?

He praised it but now seemed to have found something to criticize. I wondered what it could be as the Elder pointed to the ceiling.

“The ceiling is lacking?”

“Hmm, it would have been better if the ceiling were covered in gold or something. If you plan to live with Rurin, you should show that kind of wealth.”

The Elder looked up at the main chamber’s ceiling, shaking his head in disapproval of the marble.

He was echoing what Rurin said when she went to the Palace.

You can’t hide your bloodline, it seems.

“Well, I plan to improve it gradually. Who said it would end like this?”

“Oh? Really? Don’t forget those words.”

As soon as he said that, I felt like I was being tricked again. This dragon is no ordinary one. The Elder faintly smiled and moved toward the hot spring behind the main chamber.

“Now, what’s this?”

He opened the door and looked around curiously.

“This is… a human bath? It’s worth polymorphing to come here. Nice. Let’s see.”

Considering he had been a human emperor, he must have experienced royal baths before. It was natural for him to be familiar with it.

The Elder undressed without hesitation and sat in the bath.

“Come in too.”

He gestured for me to join him. The bathwater was hot because it was almost time for Rurin to wake up, and the Luruns had heated it.

As I entered, the Elder immediately continued speaking.

“Well, the lair itself is well made and grand. That’s good. Rurin will like it.”

“Yes, she liked the idea of having a lair so much that she even dug the ground herself. Anyway, does that mean it passes?”

The Elder soaked a towel in hot water, placed it on his forehead, and lay back in the bath.

“Actually, that doesn’t really matter. As long as there’s a decent lair. Even if I said it failed, you wouldn’t stay still.”

The Elder stopped talking there and shut his mouth. There was a brief silence as he seemed to relax in the hot water.

“So…?”

What broke the silence was an incomprehensible remark.

Why suddenly say that? I looked at the Elder in confusion, and he gave me an exasperated look. I felt even more frustrated.

“Why that face? Rurin’s coming-of-age ceremony is soon. When will you get married?”

“Married?”

The Elder looked at me as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, like saying the sun rises in the east.

His shamelessness resembled Rurin’s expression so much.

It was so familiar that I almost blurted out something rude.

I’m stronger than the Elder, but I can’t be disrespectful to Rurin’s grandfather. So I held back.

“You’re not thinking of toying with my granddaughter, are you?”

The Elder stood up in the bath with a very serious expression.

“No matter how powerful you are, I can’t accept that. Absolutely not!”

“Weren’t you opposed to Rurin and me?”

“If Rurin likes you, I won’t deny the marriage. In fact, I think you’re the right person to protect her till the end. Or am I wrong?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then you should get married.”

“I’m not planning to rush it.”

“You should hurry.”

“Pardon?”

“If you don’t marry Rurin quickly, it could cause trouble. It could lead to further discord.”