The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

Dewensen, the bustling heart of the downtown area.

At this moment, the Silver Dragon Shalaina had already transformed into the form of a High Elf. Clutching the 'shield' with the Teleportation Gate rune, she stomped out of Dewensen's military headquarters, her face still burning with unspent fury, and headed straight to a tavern just around the corner.

For a dragon, Dragon Breath was a high-energy-consuming weapon, and Shalaina desperately needed to fill her growling stomach.

However, extensive burn marks remained on her body, particularly across her chest and face. As soon as she sat down and slammed the severely distorted shield onto the table, her terrifying aura and 'ferocious' look frightened the patrons at the next table into quickly paying their bill and leaving.

These were the scars left from the time she had exchanged Dragon Breath blasts with the Red Dragon.

But such injuries were not a big deal for Shalaina, a Silver Dragon. Even if they might leave scars, they were nothing a Regeneration Spell couldn't fix with just a bit of money. That kind of minor inconvenience, Attilicia could easily handle.

And she was confident that he was hiding somewhere in Dewensen. The direction Attilicia had left in that night led only to the large city-state of Dewensen. She knew that lifelong companion too well. Though bright and talented in many ways, unlike the common Dragon, he was inherently lazy and indulgent. Whenever he faced a devastating setback and sought to hide his identity, he would only 'hide in plain sight.' Only in such a place could one maintain a decent living and have easy access to various amenities.

As long as she found him...

Damn it, why do I have to think of that pervert at a time like this!

Pull yourself together, Shalaina! There are other Silver Dragons in this world apart from Attilicia.

The Pastoral Head at the Temple of Nature could deal with these injuries too, and the fee might even be less than that greedy sucker's.

After all, I'm now an envoy of Dragon Island to Granyel.

It was just her luck that she had made such a disastrous first impression in the capital of the High Elves. Especially since she had crashed into the city gate's watchtower and injured several sentries in the process, the trouble was now even more complicated. The only thing she found solace in was that no Elves had died from the incident. Such matters could be trivial or grave. If Dewensen authorities decided to pursue the incident with great concern, she, the newly appointed envoy, might well have to pack up and 'ride the dragon' away.

In order to handle the incident properly, she had gone straight to the Dewensen military headquarters upon entering the city to explain the full sequence of events and have them recorded.

But really, how was she supposed to explain something like that?

To avoid creating further misunderstandings, Shalaina had no choice but to swallow her shame and tell the truth:

"When I was approaching Dewensen's west city gate, I saw a Red Dragon on a mountain cliff outside the city... 'molesting' a Drow Elf."

She had intended to use the term 'mating', but considering the Red Dragon was still just a whelp and not yet capable, she reluctantly used 'molesting' instead.

The High Elf officer who was taking her statement asked, "So you were so engrossed in watching, so shocked that you ran straight into the watchtower?"

"...Yes." She couldn't very well say that she had been stunned because the Drow's buttocks resembled Attilicia's Elven form too closely.

"AHEM, do you remember what he looked like? It would be best if you could draw him. We will keep an eye out for this matter, but Miss Shalaina, we must be clear with you in advance that the 'provocative' Red Dragon is most likely untraceable. You must know, due to the destruction of Spider Nest City and the subsequent disturbances in the Gloomy Region, many creatures from that place have surfaced over the past year, especially those already near-plague levels of Drow..."

Shalaina felt she would never, ever forget the bursts of barely suppressed laughter and mockery emanating from behind her as she walked out the doors of the military headquarters.

"This is... just too shameful for a dragon!"

As Shalaina sat in the tavern recalling the day's events, she finally couldn't restrain her intense shame and covered her face with her hands.

All the blame could only be shouldered by David, who at that very moment was rummaging through her Mage Tower.

"Damned Red Dragon whelps, you'd better not let me catch you again!"

Just as Shalaina's order for a fifty-serving 'Victory Feast' began being brought to the table by the enthusiastic Elf staff, her twitching long ears overheard the neighboring conversation about herself:

"This lady... sure can eat."

"You don't know anything; that's clearly a Dragon, probably a Silver Dragon too. No need to make a big deal out of it."

"Hm? You make it sound as if Silver Dragons are a common sight."

"They weren't common before. After all, even if you saw one, you wouldn't necessarily recognize it as a Silver Dragon in disguise. But the thing is, ever since a few days ago when that 'Mrs. Antonella' Silver Dragon and her family moved here, they've become a common sight, haven't they..."

Upon hearing this, Shalaina's ears perked up like a cat that had just caught the scent of a mouse.

Considering the female High Elf she had seen that night, she was certain that this Silver Dragon lady...

...was none other than Attilicia!

However, she wasn't particularly shocked about the so-called 'Silver Dragon's family.'

After all, with Attilicia's spontaneous style, disguising himself as a 'Silver Dragon's wife' and even adopting a High Elf child wasn't out of the question.

When she had first arrived in Saeolus City last year, she even overheard the citizens gossiping about Attilicia and Duchess Mirillian of the Silver Wheel, saying that Princess Elizabeth was Attilicia's child!

But when she barged into Silver Castle to meet him, she found that Miss Elizabeth might even be older than both herself and Attilicia!

Like someone performing a magic trick, Shalaina stuffed all the dishes on the table—plates and all—into her stomach in one go. This happened amidst the astonished gasps and incredulous stares of the tavern's patrons. Then, she slapped a Dewensen Gold Coin on the long table and strode to the aforementioned customer. Leaning on the corner of the table, she looked down at him and asked:

"Where does that Mrs. Antonella Silver Dragon live?"

"Gold... Golden Oak Avenue, number 186," stuttered the Elf, who was caught off guard.

Almost all the merchants on Golden Oak Avenue knew about this.

After all, the commotion was quite a spectacle when David's family moved into their new home, especially those twelve Grey Elf maids who had caused half the street's High Elves to turn green with envy.

Turned out, the Silver Dragon lady, upon hearing about the hefty employment cost the very next day, dismissed all the maids after paying a penalty for breaching the contract.

The reason given was the fear that the overly enthusiastic Grey Elf maids were not exactly conducive to her son's growth and development environment.

This nearly escalated to Dewensen's legal department.

"Thank you."

Instantly, Shalaina flicked a silver coin from between her fingers, making it arc into the bewildered Elf's hand.

The Elf watched her gallant departing figure, then looked at the silver coin in his hand. In disbelief, he asked his companion:

"Did I just get a tip from a dragon?" This utterly shattered his understanding.

"Better save it quick! You struck it rich, buddy," his companion patted his shoulder, his face full of excitement.

「Golden Oak Avenue, number 186.」

Shalaina knocked on the door of the treehouse with mixed feelings.

As she was hurriedly gathering her composure, thinking about how to face her childhood friend, the door opened.

But the one opening the door was not Attilicia.

Instead, it was a 'High Elf' young girl, half-hidden behind the door, sticking out her small head, timidly asking:

"Hello, may I know who you are?"

Tania had inherited Attilicia's extraordinary genetics and beauty. She had a soft, cute appearance and delicate features. Upon seeing her for the first time, Shalaina felt her heart melt. Shalaina wished she could reach out and pat the girl's head, yet she was worried that her own burns might frighten the child. So, she politely responded:

"Hello there, little sister. I am your fath— uh, your mother Antonella's friend. I've been hurt in battle and would like to ask her to perform a Regeneration Spell on me. Is it just you, an Elf, at home?"

Upon hearing this last sentence, Tania instinctively became alert, her body retreating further, eyes shifting as she answered:

"No, Mommy is bathing my little brother."

"Then, may I..." Shalaina had just shown her intention to come in and wait.

"No."

THUD.

Shalaina had the door slammed in her face.

She then heard voices coming from inside:

"Mommy! There was an auntie who claimed to be your friend looking for you."

Auntie! Shalaina felt like she had just been struck by a critical blow.

"Oh, okay. Where is she?"

"I closed the door. I don't know if she's gone yet. Mommy, didn't you always teach my brother and me not to talk too much to strangers, and not to just let strangers in?"

"...Yes, Tania did great."

Shalaina was left speechless outside the door.