Chapter 129

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Chapter 129: This Is My Mission…

Tonight was a dim, pitch-black night.

In the depths of the darkness, where you couldn’t see your hand in front of you, a small, delicate puppet moved, sensing obstacles through soundwaves.

It detected a warm heat source lying on the bed in the room.

On that bed lay none other than the culprit responsible for transforming humans into dragons within the royal palace of Boros City.

Snap!

The tiny white fox had only a few more seconds to observe Naya.

Suddenly, the lights flickered on in response to the sound of a door opening.

A red figure flashed by, moving faster than the sluggishly reacting Hipper back then—much faster than Hipper’s speed.

“Trying to escape?”

Feeling the sudden brightness, Naya painfully opened her eyes.

In the room, she saw Iris holding a fox in her hand.

Another fox?!

Naya instantly shook off her sleepiness.

“I sincerely apologize, esteemed Dragon. I’ve intruded on your estate and disturbed you, but I mean no harm!”

Iris gazed at the small creature in her hand, immediately recognizing that the little fox was not a living being but rather a puppet.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Well, I am a witch. I heard that after the appearance of the dragons in Boros City’s royal palace, many people came down with dragon scale disease. I thought Princess Hipper might know the truth, so I went to ask her. It was then that I discovered she was of the Vampire Clan. After extracting her blood, I found traces of dragon blood within it. Using bloodline resonance, I was able to trace it back to you. I intruded on your estate merely to confirm if I had truly found you.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I came to find you because I want to become a dragon, but I don’t want to die or risk the chance of death from the dragon transformation ritual. I heard that none of the people in the Boros royal palace who contracted dragon scale disease died. Instead, they all gradually transformed into true dragons. Old, weak, sick—it made no difference, the success rate of transforming through dragon scale disease was 100%. Respected Dragon Queen, could you tell me the secret behind this?”

“Come here tomorrow to speak with me in person. Don’t use this puppet toy.”

“I apologize, Dragon Queen, that was rude of me.”

“Go back.”

Iris released the puppet.

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow, Your Majesty and Your Highness. I apologize for disturbing your rest. I’ll come in person to apologize tomorrow.”

The little fox nodded politely, then turned and slipped out through the window.

“Iris, you just let it go?”

Sitting on the bed, Naya asked in confusion.

“The real person isn’t here. Destroying this puppet wouldn’t accomplish anything.”

Iris stood up, looking at Naya sitting on the bed, her pajama collar slipping to reveal her bare shoulder, her sleepy eyes half-closed, with silver hair cascading over her shoulder—a vision of beauty freshly awakened.

Iris took a slow breath.

It had been too long since she’d shared a bed with Naya. Every small movement of Naya’s was graceful and charming.

“What’s going on? That fox… was it Linnevia?”

But Naya remembered Linnevia’s fox being pink.

“Not sure. We’ll see if she shows up tomorrow. She hasn’t shown any hostility yet, but this also means our location has been exposed. I’ll stay here tonight. Just in case there are any other intruders.”

“Oh…”

Naya scooted over on the bed, holding the dragon egg, making room for Iris.

Iris walked over to Naya with a serious expression, slowly sitting down beside her. She tried to keep her composure, but internally, she was celebrating.

Half a month without being able to lie beside Naya…

Did she know how Iris had endured these past two weeks? Every night, she’d had to read stories to that little brat Illya, tucking her in just like Naya would.

If she didn’t have Naya’s gentle presence to comfort her soon, she was sure she’d explode.

“Let’s go to sleep.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to just let her go like that? I feel a bit uneasy.”

“Don’t you trust me? You have the egg, it’s not going to wander off on its own. I’ll protect you, and you protect the egg—doesn’t that cover everything?”

Naya believed in Iris’s devotion to her.

If Illya sneaked out to cause trouble, Iris could attribute it to her willfulness, but the egg had no will of its own.

If Iris were to do something like sneak off with the egg without telling her, then Naya would seriously have to consider a divorce.

“By the way, what about Illya? Who’s going to protect her?”

“Don’t worry, as soon as I sensed an unusual energy entering our boundary, I immediately woke up Flanna and Bella to protect Illya.”

“Shouldn’t you go back and reassure Illya?”

“I didn’t wake her, she’s sleeping soundly. All right, don’t worry so much. Let’s get some sleep.”

Reassured, Naya finally held the egg, covered herself with the blanket, and prepared to get some rest.

Worried about another intruder, Naya didn’t let Iris turn off the light.

She lay on her side facing the wall, with her back to Iris.

Even without Iris’s strong arms around her, Iris could feel deeply content just by breathing in Naya’s calming fragrance.

Half a month—it had finally come to an end.

To be able to share a bed with Naya again…

These nights, Iris had tossed and turned, sleepless, every minute dragging on like hours.

Gently placing an arm around Naya’s waist, she held the beloved person close, their heartbeats softly resonating through the thin fabric of their nightclothes.

There were no other movements—just the quiet embrace as they drifted into a light, restful sleep.

Naturally, Naya, being embraced, nestled her head into the blanket, with a faint smile on her lips.

Not having Iris to sleep beside her for these two weeks had left her feeling hollow and lonely. 

She’d grown used to being able to reach out to Iris whenever she wanted, and lately, finding no one there upon waking had left her feeling wistful.

With Iris’s presence, Naya quickly fell back asleep. She often complained about Iris being neglectful or always spoiling their daughter, but deep down, Naya trusted Iris and instinctively relied on her. 

It was a habit—a comfort that came with Iris being nearby, bringing peace to her heart.

The next morning.

Illya opened her eyes, glancing around in confusion.

“Mother…”

Where is my mother?

Illya reached out and patted the blanket.

Where did my whole mother go?

Illya lay in bed, waiting for her mother’s return.

But then, she thought, why was she waiting for her? Mother wasn’t Mama, after all.

Usually, the only thing Mother did to get her up was to say, “Illya, time to wake up”, and then leave her to her own devices.

Illya missed Mama.

Every morning, Mama’s gentle voice would wake her.

All because of her little sister.

Mama’s attention was entirely focused on her sister now.

Illya did feel a bit neglected, but she sat up and clenched her fists.

“I’m a big sister now. I need to be a good example for my little sister. I can’t let Mama get too tired. I should learn to get up on my own!”

Illya tossed off the covers, got out of bed, dressed herself, and slipped on her shoes.

She opened the door and walked out.

She went to her mother’s room next door, trying the door, which easily swung open.

But, unfortunately, her mother wasn’t there either.

She headed downstairs, and halfway down the staircase, she heard voices coming from the living room below.

“So, what can you offer me?”

Mama, holding the dragon egg, was sitting with Mother at the round table in the center of the living room. 

Seated across from them were a black-haired human and a white-haired fox girl!

Oh my, so much white fur right after waking up—Illya felt like she might faint from happiness.

“Your Highness, Princess.”

Flanna approached Illya and picked her up, and together they stood to the side, listening to the four of them conversing.

Following Iris’s question, the white-haired fox girl pondered for a moment before offering what she considered a reasonable deal.

“An alliance with the Kingdom of Foxes.”

“What makes you think we dragons need an alliance with the Kingdom of Foxes?” 

Iris retorted.

The black-haired woman looked into Iris’s eyes.

“The Succubus are beginning to stir. Not long ago, they set their sights on Gerris City to strengthen their forces. Now they’re gradually infiltrating the Kingdom of Foxes, aiming to cultivate the Fox Princess who was abandoned 6 years ago into a being close to a God. I suspect that the return of the Vampires is imminent as well. If our Kingdom of Foxes falls, your dragon clan won’t be far behind.”

Succubus (Dream Demons) and the Vampires—both long-lived races—had no countries of their own.

Thankfully, there were so few of them that they couldn’t establish their own nation.

Otherwise, this world would be dominated by the Vampires and Succubus (Dream Demons).

Succubus could control dreams, while the Vampires had abilities to implant memories and control minds. 

While handling one or two individuals was manageable, if they organized and began building power bases, things would become seriously problematic.

“What do you mean by ‘close to a God’?”

“Wasn’t the disaster at Gerris City resolved by your people? Don’t you know what they’re trying to accomplish?”

Iris lowered her head in thought.

True.

If she hadn’t forcibly interrupted Linnevia’s Blood Moon Ritual, and that nine-tailed fox had absorbed so many souls’ energy, dealing with that fox would’ve been nearly impossible.

“What’s happening with the Vampires?”

“You may not know, but long ago, in ancient times, the Vampires were also dominant on this land.”

“…”

Iris exchanged a look with the black-haired woman, signaling her to continue.

“Later, because a God appeared among humans and reshaped the world, the Vampires declined, though it didn’t mean they lost their power. They simply became much more low-key than in ancient times. The Succubus are eager to raise a beast nearly godlike, and the Goss Empire’s ambition to swallow up neighboring nations grows more evident. Doesn’t all this show that a crisis is looming? Do you think the Vampires would sit idly by? Surely you Dragons…aren’t without your own preparations, are you?”

The black-haired woman glanced at Naya, who had remained silent throughout the conversation.

“???”

Naya blinked, a puzzled look on her face.

She turned to look at Iris.

“Don’t say things carelessly,” Iris said coldly to the black-haired woman.

“I know that your dragon clan is powerful. You’ve likely prepared for such a future. However, even the strongest make mistakes. I still hope Your Majesty the Queen can make a few more preparations.”

“I won’t make mistakes,” Iris paused, then added, 

“However, turning you into a dragon isn’t difficult, just a simple task. If it means securing an alliance with the fox clan, it wouldn’t be a bad trade.”

The black-haired woman and the white-haired fox girl exchanged glances and smiled at each other.

But within two seconds, they both stopped smiling and composed themselves.

“Your Majesty the Queen is wise.”

“Why do you want to become a dragon?” 

Iris stared at the black-haired woman.

“This…” 

The black-haired woman looked at the white-haired fox girl beside her with deep affection. 

“Because the lifespans of humans and foxes are unequal. Foxes live around 500 years, but we humans can only live a little over a 100. I don’t know how she will face the remaining centuries alone.”

The white-haired fox girl nodded in agreement.

“Is it just for love?”

“Is that not enough?”

“It’s not that it isn’t enough, I just thought you had greater ambitions,” Iris smiled slightly. 

“As for how to become a dragon, you’ll have to wait a little longer. When the time comes, I’ll inform you. As the Great Princess of the foxes, I’m sure when you see such a grand spectacle, you’ll know exactly what it is.”

“What kind of spectacle?”

“You’ll find out when the time comes. Now, since business has concluded, would you two like to join us for lunch?”

“No, it should be us inviting you. But now, we are in a human city. If Your Majesty the Queen ever visits the Kingdom of Foxes, we will offer you a grand reception.”

“I look forward to that day.”

“Then we’ll take our leave, Your Majesty the Queen.”

The black-haired woman and the white-haired fox girl both slightly bowed to Iris.

“Mmm, goodbye.”

Then, hand in hand, the two left the villa.

To avoid attracting too much attention, the white-haired fox girl donned a hat to cover her fox ears. Only once they were in an empty alley did the black-haired woman open her arms and tightly embrace the fox demon in front of her.

“So wonderful, Bai Yu! There’s hope!”

The fox, Bai Yu, squinted her eyes, smiling as she nodded.

She looked at the black-haired woman’s face. Although well-preserved with magic potions, the corners of her eyes still betrayed a few wrinkles that couldn’t be concealed.

Humans and other species couldn’t escape the reality of lifespans when it came to cross-species romance.

But the dragon scale disease incident in Boros Palace had given the black-haired woman hope.

As long as she could become a dragon, living as long as the fox clan, they could grow old together.

Initially, they had planned that if the Dragon Queen refused to turn her into a dragon, they would continue investigating Linnevia’s case and search for a way to become a Succubus. 

As an immortal, while a Succubus wouldn’t die in their natural state, if she could become one, she could live out her life with Bai Yu and then die with her.

Of course, it would be best to become a dragon and die naturally.

“We should stay here a little longer. That silver dragon’s egg is very special.”

Bai Yu pushed the black-haired woman away.

Her instincts told her that the secret to becoming a dragon without fail was connected to that egg.

“I feel it too. The energy from that egg is very strange.”

As a witch, she was especially sensitive to changes in energy.

That’s why, in Hipper’s room, she was able to analyze the energy from Hipper’s blood-red eyes and deduce that she was a Vampire.

…

“Illya, go have breakfast with Flanna and the others.”

After the pair left, Naya got up, holding the egg. She looked at Iris.

“Iris, come with me.”

“Mmm.”

Flanna sat down with Illya at the round table while Bella went to the kitchen to bring out another serving of breakfast.

The pastries on the table had been prepared for their guests, the black-haired woman and the white-haired fox girl.

Illya, holding a fork in one hand and chopsticks in the other, looked at the backs of her mother and Iris as they walked toward the staircase. 

Suddenly, she felt a tragic distance between herself and the two adults. Mama and Mother would now discuss state matters without her again.

Illya also wanted to listen.

She had only heard part of the meeting earlier and didn’t know the full context.

What was this about Succubus? The black-haired woman wanting to become a dragon?

Never mind, I’ll eat first. I’m so tired after a full night’s sleep, and I’m hungry. Eating is the most important thing right now.

Naya returned to her room, buried the egg in her blanket, and then stood up, pushing Iris against the wall.

 She raised her head and stared into Iris’s crimson eyes.

“Tell me, why did that woman give me such a meaningful look earlier? What exactly is this ‘crisis’ she spoke of, and what are your countermeasures?”

If the black-haired woman hadn’t looked at her, Naya might have just thought of the meeting as an ordinary international discussion.

But once it involved her, Naya couldn’t sit still anymore.

“The so-called crisis probably refers to our dragon clan. As for why she looked at you, I think she was looking at our egg.”

“…But my egg represents me, since I gave birth to it. What exactly is your plan? What do you want to do with our child?”

Since Iris had mentioned that the crisis referred to the dragon clan, it meant Iris might actually have some kind of scheme.

“Don’t overreact, Naya.”

Iris raised her hand and placed it on Naya’s shoulder.

With the familiar pressure on her shoulder, Naya’s dazed mind began to clear up.

“I… I’m not misunderstanding your intentions because of what others said, it’s just that after the last two times, I’ve been a little scared. Plus, you’ve admitted that the crisis comes from the dragon clan, and the countermeasures may involve our child. How can I not worry?”

“Naya, I did some research on the Dragon God in advance. I know what happens when the Dragon God is born. With the arrival of the Dragon God, it means humanity’s true disaster is approaching. If, one day, our child grows up and absorbs enough energy to become a true Dragon God, with the ability to turn all of humanity into dragons, then according to historical records, a God will surely be born among humans to overcome the crisis humanity faces.”

Naya frowned.

So, is this the purpose of the system’s existence?

Is the final reward of the main storyline supposed to be becoming a God?

“Then, you still… Want to do this? If a human really becomes a God, the world will undergo a complete upheaval…”

In fact, a God would only be born after killing Iris, and then the Human God would slay the Dragon God.

This was the most common ending recorded in history.

Historically, the dragon clan and vampire clan, once the rulers of the world, were defeated by humans. 

Now, the dragon clan resides in one corner, having established its own nation, and the vampire clan has dwindled to almost nothing.

Naya couldn’t bear to imagine what would happen if the dragon clan lost again. What would be the final fate of the dragon clan?

“But we are the dragon clan, Naya. We can’t lose our pride, our ambition, or the conquest that runs through our dragon bloodline.”

Iris cupped Naya’s face in both hands, staring seriously and solemnly into Naya’s purple eyes.

“This is the mission of the Dragon King.”

“……”