Episode 2
I don’t know why humans are considered Asil’s husband or father.
But Mom has never been wrong, so she must be right this time too.
It was right at that moment.
“Surrender, monster. You’re surrounded.”
A boy at the front, holding a sword with a wary expression, took a step forward.
The humans behind him also took a step forward in unison.
Husband, father—whatever they are, right now, they’re just too scary.
I’ll be tied up tightly with ropes and roasted over a bonfire.
“Bbyaaa…”
Asil, overcome with sorrow, shed tears as big as bells.
At that, the humans who had drawn their swords panicked instead.
“Is it… attacking?”
“…Hold on.”
“It’s too pitiful…”
They had expected a grotesque monster to be summoned, but instead, a tiny, adorable creature who wouldn’t even fill a single bite appeared, crying its eyes out.
Far from boosting their morale, it was enough to crush what little they had.
It was then that something touched the trembling baby dragon’s front paw.
It was a pure white scarf tied around its neck.
The baby beasts at the beast kindergarten always wore white scarves around their necks.
“When you meet humans, wave a white handkerchief to show you have no intention of attacking.”
It was because of the kindergarten teacher’s lesson for emergencies.
Asil hurriedly untied the scarf with its fern-like front paws and waved it frantically.
“Bbya! Bbyk, bbyaaaa-!” (Surrender! *sniffle*, Asil surrenders-!)
With short arms and legs, it ended up looking like a clumsy dance, but there was no helping it.
The startled humans tensed up.
“Damn monster, is it performing a curse-inducing dance?!”
“Be careful!”
“Don’t let your guard down. Something big is coming!”
But nothing happened.
After a few awkward minutes passed, with Asil waving the scarf with all its might until its limbs started to cramp,
one of the humans, relaxing their stiff expression, cautiously spoke.
“It’s… waving a white flag, isn’t it? Doesn’t that mean it’s surrendering?”
“Now that I look closely, there’s an eggshell on its head. It’s so small—it must still be a baby.”
“Could it understand us?”
All eyes turned to one person.
Edenber, receiving their gazes, hesitated before speaking to the imperial mage beside him.
“Can you cast a translation spell on that monster?”
They had only thought to suppress it with force, never imagining it could communicate like a divine beast, and only now considered this option.
“It’s possible.”
The mage bowed and began chanting a spell.
Meanwhile, Edenber spoke to the baby dragon, who was crying loudly from the pain in its limbs.
“Hey, I understand your intention, so stop crying.”
He took out a handkerchief, placed it on the flat of his sword, and extended it to where Asil’s front paw could reach.
“Bbyk…? Bbyasbbi, bbyk.”
Even in its flustered state, Asil thanked him and took the handkerchief.
It wiped away its waterfall-like tears and blew its nose with a loud *honk*!
The human’s handkerchief had a pleasant scent.
As it inhaled the fragrance, a glimmer of hope sprouted like a seedling.
‘Maybe my husband isn’t trying to eat me.’
Asil, with swollen eyes, cautiously mumbled with its tiny mouth.
“Bbya…?” (Husband…?)
Just then, the mage’s translation spell finished, and Edenber, who clearly understood the translated words, froze.
“What?”
“Bbya…” (Husband…)
Asil, holding the scarf in one hand and the tear-soaked handkerchief in the other, waved both arms.
“Bbyaaa. Bbyaaat…?” (Asil tastes bad. So please don’t eat Asil…?)
Edenber was completely petrified.
* * *
Fortunately, the baby dragon wasn’t eaten.
At Edenber’s command, who had been frozen, it was decided that they would take it to the divine beast’s room.
“If I may be so bold, Duke.”
Just before moving to the room, one of the retainers, who had been looking at Asil with displeasure, interjected.
“It seems too small to be Your Grace’s divine beast. Wouldn’t it be better to seek the imperial court’s permission and resummon?”
“Do you know how much we paid the imperial court for this summoning? Do you realize how much the family’s finances would be strained by a resummoning?”
“…But.”
“It’s not too late to decide after confirming its abilities.”
And so, Asil was taken to the divine beast’s room.
The divine beast’s room in the main building was an enormous space.
It was designed for large divine beasts, but Asil, unaware of this, flinched.
‘What do I do? They’re going to roast me here.’
“Bbyaaaa.”
Asil, crying out pitifully, looked up at Edenber.
It waved the scarf with trembling arms, desperately pleading that a baby dragon like itself wouldn’t taste good and should be spared.
Then Edenber lifted Asil and placed it on a desk.
Calling out in a low voice to the baby dragon, who had closed its eyes tightly, expecting to be showered with seasonings, he said,
“Hey.”
“…Bbi?”
“I’m not your husband; you should call me master. If you don’t like that, you can call me by my name.”
In a cold tone that didn’t match his age, he drew a line.
“Edenber, that’s my name.”
Asil glanced at him cautiously.
Humans are said to be barbaric enough to roast young beasts in one bite… but telling me his name means he won’t eat me right away, right?
So, Asil carefully said its own name too.
“Bbyasbbit.” (Asil is Asil.)
“Alright, Asil. What can you do?”
“Bbi?”
“Can you cast powerful magic to destroy this ducal castle in one go, or do you have tremendous strength?”
Well… I’ve accidentally broken a lot of houses, but never a castle.
Asil thought for a moment and shook its head.
“Or do you have the power to heal?”
Shake, shake.
“…The power to see the future?”
Shake, shake.
With each shake of its head, the color drained from Edenber’s face.
After a moment’s hesitation, he stammered,
“Then… what *can* you do?”
“Bbiiya bbii.” (Asil is good at climbing trees.)
“….”
“Bbya.” (And swimming well.)
In despair, he clutched his face.
Oh no, something’s wrong. Asil hurriedly added two more things.
“Bbiiya. Bbit bbiiya.” (Asil sings well too. And I don’t taste good, so don’t eat me, husband.)
“I’m not your husband… Fine, do whatever you want.”
It was a failed summoning anyway; what more could go wrong? Edenber gave up on correcting the title.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Just then, a knock was heard.
“Your Grace, I’ve brought the meal as you instructed.”
They had prepared a meal, thinking a hungry monster might become ferocious.
Not that it mattered now, even if it did.
Soon, a lavish feast was laid out before Asil.
It was a sight that would make anyone’s eyes widen, but Asil’s attention wasn’t on the food.
‘What’s that?’
Next to the deliciously cooked dishes, a live baby rabbit was wriggling.
Edenber, who hadn’t given up on Asil’s ferocity, asked,
“Too small? If it’s not enough, I can have them bring a bigger rabbit.”
“…!”
As a clever beast, Asil instantly understood and gasped.
Goodness, humans really are dangerous creatures. I must never let my guard down!
“Bbyaaat!”
No matter how scary humans are, protecting helpless animals is a basic duty for a beast.
Asil hurriedly dashed over, hid the rabbit behind her back, and backed away to where Edenber’s hand couldn’t reach.
Misunderstanding the action, Edenber said calmly,
“I’m not going to steal and eat it.”
“Bbyaaaa!” (Bunny friend isn’t food!)
“Then what do *you* eat?”
“Bbyasbbi! Bbyaaa.” (Asil eats strawberries.)
“Strawberries…”
The supposed terrifying monster’s staple food is strawberries.
Looking even more dejected, he pushed a plate from the back forward.
At that, Asil’s previously aloof eyes widened.
“Bbi?”
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
By Anna 💓
