The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

If David Uthos were to raise them, merely bringing them to adolescence would be a 'boon' so significant it would astound many hatchlings, especially if they could also eat such delicious Dragon Food every day.

As for the risks? Weren't their days already fraught with danger when they hunted alone in the wild during their formative years?

The Drow Dragon Hunting teams from the New Continent and barbarians who saw slaying young dragons as a 'glory of dragon slaying' posed threats. Even other great dragons or powerful magical beasts like griffins were all unknown yet potentially fatal dangers that could snuff out their lives in their youth.

"Thank you for your generosity, Prince David Uthos."

The Black Dragon Alfonse looked at David, who himself appeared to be merely a juvenile dragon. After some thought, Alfonse decided to revert to this more formal address.

"Thank you for your generosity, Prince David Uthos," said the black dragon Viola, who belatedly realized and also bowed her head.

David, however, seemed unconcerned. He swished his tail and said, "No need for such formality, my dear children. As a foster father, I should leave some room and direction for your growth, shouldn't I?"

"..." The black dragon siblings fell silent.

Alright, so he was dead set on being their 'dad'.

A perfectly good Red Dragon—what happened to the promised solitary and savage nature?

How did he develop such a peculiar hobby?

Alfonse, who possessed 'a bit more knowledge,' couldn't help but grow more suspicious:

This Red Dragon whelp... he couldn't actually be scheming to get to their mother, could he?

Their mother, although now in her prime, was still an exceptionally beautiful black dragon.

And since she had missed the optimal time to ascend to Legendary status, if this Red Dragon before them reached adolescence before their mother achieved her breakthrough...

Just as Alfonse was reeling from this incredible speculation—his scales slightly bristling, his mouth agape, and nostrils flared in bewilderment—a gust of wind swept past.

A red and a green dragon were seen taking flight, their wings beating the air, as David's words drifted over with the wind, "Stick close now, we have quite a few neighbors to visit next."

In an instant, four great dragons soared into the sky.

The dragon beast on the cliff was still bewildered and unsure what to do when a dragon-catching chain flew out and snagged its outstretched tail.

"AARGH?!!" Dragged into the air by Nifadora, it let out a long, terrified shriek.

「In the following four months, David and his party flew across almost half of the Skanis Continent, covering the lands in the west and Northland.」

Unlike David's previous journey, which had been a linear exploration of the eastern Dark Mountains and the southern desert frontier, this expedition followed a route plotted on a map from Nifadora. They traveled from the nearest to the farthest Dragon Nests, then circled back towards their coastal Dragon Nest camp, visiting thirteen known or newly discovered mother dragon nests in total.

Of these, there were three Red Dragon nests, four Green Dragon nests, and six Black Dragon nests; notably absent were any White Dragon or Blue Dragon nests.

He avoided the White Dragons primarily because he felt there were already enough of them at the camp. Furthermore, given their generally low intelligence, communication would likely be difficult. Most also resided near the northern polar regions, and David considered visiting them a waste of time that could be better spent on other prospects.

As for the Blue Dragons, he wasn't yet prepared to confront the brigands dwelling in their desert lairs in the south.

Unlike the other Chromatic Dragons, Blue Dragons maintained their species' advantage through a clan system and 'social nurturing.'

If David were to propose taking over the rearing of all their hatchlings, it would be like striking at the very foundations of the Blue Dragon lineage—it would be a testament to the Blue Dragons' restraint if they didn't immediately attack.

Yet, sometimes, tasks that seem daunting or even impossible become significantly easier once the first step is taken.

David had brokered his first 'fostering rights exchange' in the Duolinge Wetlands. With the endorsement of the Black Dragon Lord known as 'Malice of Darkness,' three 'obedient and honest' young black dragons now in his retinue, and David, the 'Son of the Crimson Calamity,' paving the way with Gold, their visits had a remarkable effect. The historically 'infamous Evil Dragons' they encountered seemed to transform overnight into 'polite and cultured' good neighbors, akin to a friendly older sister just coming of age, or an attractive yet reclusive quirky aunt.

Although the vast majority of Chromatic Dragon neighbors were not in their 'breeding season,' David didn't come away completely empty-handed.

Instead, by offering twenty pounds of Gold as a courtesy gift, he managed to leave behind Dragon Nest coordinates that could be used for long-distance telepathy—effectively his business card.

David's pitch was eloquent, but if translated into Blue Star advertising slogans, it would sound something like this:

[Unexpectedly pregnant? Just have a nest of kids!]

[Motherhood is a role life thrusts upon us. But the Dragon Nest Academy established by David Uthos is here to address the hidden worries of mother dragons.]

[Exchange twenty pounds of treasure for a hatchling, plus we offer door-to-door dragon collection services. What are you waiting for? Pick up the Communication Array and contact our Dragon Nest Academy! Say goodbye to worrying about your dragon children!]

[Just fifty years! Only fifty years! Fifty years to return you a healthy, handsome, combat-proficient, and wealth-generating young dragon!]

...

Indeed, as their journey progressed and the flock of hatchlings following David swelled in number, he, much to Nifadora's wide-eyed astonishment, casually concocted the 'Dragon Nest Academy'—an institution for which not even the first stone of its foundation had been laid. He used this 'Academy' as a ploy to cajole these mother dragons into 'trustingly' entrusting their young to him, reassuring them that he wouldn't be interrupting their 'obligation to rear their young dragons.'

However, this blatant behavior of an 'aspiring Ox-head Dragon'—effectively declaring himself the future father of their children—still caused quite a few mother dragons to shoot him embarrassed and chiding glances. They made a mental note of this young Red Dragon who specifically sought out mother dragons dealing with 'unexpected pregnancies.'