Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Who Stole My Baby?

Naya had no interest in any of these allegiances, she stood firmly by Iris’s side. 

She didn’t care about racial hatred or the future of those kingdoms. No matter who it was, as long as they were enemies of Iris, they were her enemies too. 

“So, do you think humanity will still accept you? Now that you’ve become a dragon, do you think there’s still a place for you among humans?”

“There must be some way to turn back. Even if I have to use transformation magic to hide my dragon tail and horns, I can still return to the human world as one of them. No matter what, I will never betray humanity, and I will never cooperate with you. I don’t care about endless riches and glory, I just want to die without shame.”

“You bastard… You think you’re the Hero in some adventure story, don’t you? Saying such noble things, do you think we really care that much about your ridiculous abilities?!”

Naya raised her spear and thrust it toward Zelan’s throat, stopping just in time before piercing his skin.

Zelan didn’t dare breathe. With the spear so close to his throat, he didn’t even dare swallow the saliva stuck in his throat, fearing that the movement of his Adam’s apple might cause his skin to brush against Naya’s spear.

Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, terrified that a slight twitch of the silver-haired dragon girl’s hand could cost him his life.

Naya asked coldly.

“Do you truly refuse to surrender?”

[System, if he keeps acting like this, should I just tell him I have a System too?]

[At least wait and see what Iris has in mind. No need to rush to become a suicide soldier just yet. Besides, what if Iris called you over here because she wanted you to blow yourself up willingly?]

“I will never surrender.”

Naya gritted her teeth. Damn it. She really had no way of dealing with this so-called Hero.

If it weren’t for his System being useful, she would’ve stabbed her spear into Zeran’s throat long ago.

Iris raised her hand again, pulling Naya into an embrace. She rested her chin on Naya’s shoulder, and her hand slid from Naya’s stomach up to her shoulder, passing over certain mountains and clouds along the way.

What is Iris doing?!

Now’s not the time for flirting, is it?

Naya’s cheeks turned slightly red.

The Hero, Zeran, looked wide-eyed shocked at the intimate gesture between the two beautiful dragon girls in front of him.

This silver-haired dragon girl… was she really once human?

And from the looks of them, with the Dragon King’s sly smile and the bashful expression on the silver-haired dragon girl’s face.

Zelan found the scene both strange and yet… the two of them seemed so fitting together.

“Put away your spear, Naya. Let me handle him.”

Iris finally grabbing Naya’s wrist and gently pulling her hand back.

“Oh…”

Naya’s cheeks were still flushed red as she shot a glare at Zelan, who was staring at them.

“What are you looking at? Careful, or you might turn into a beautiful girl yourself!”

Naya stashed her spear into an extra-dimensional bag and crossed her arms in front of her chest, blocking the Hero’s view.

Although the dress she was wearing wasn’t sheer or low-cut, she still felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by a man like that.

“That’s actually a good idea, Naya.”

“Huh?”

Naya looked confused.

Iris turned to look at Zeran.

“Boy, since you refuse to surrender your secret, then you’ll have to lose another one.”

“W-what?!”

Zelan felt a chill down his spine as he looked at Iris in shock.

Iris pulled Naya behind her and stepped closer to him.

She wouldn’t actually do it, right?

Zelan swallowed nervously.

“No, you can’t do that to me!”

Iris’s lips curled into a grin, and she raised her hand. Red magical runes began to glow in her palm.

Naya stood behind Iris, unsure of what to do for a moment. What she’d said earlier had just been a casual remark.

If Zeran really were to be turned into a girl, she didn’t think it would be that dramatic. If there were to be a second gender-swapped Hero, Naya felt like her uniqueness in Iris’s heart would diminish even more.

Though she knew Iris wouldn’t abandon her for that, she still longed to be Iris’s only one, the most special in Iris’s heart.

In the next moment, however, Zelan collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Iris hadn’t used a gender-swap spell but simply cast a basic sleep spell instead.

Turning back to Naya, the mischievousness in Iris’s smile faded, replaced by a touch of gentleness.

“I have no interest in seeing his little mushroom, so I’ll let the subordinates take care of that. When he wakes up, have them cut it off.”

“Huh?”

Cut it off? Naya was dumbfounded by Iris’s casual tone.

“Let’s go. Since he refuses to cooperate, there’s nothing more we can do.”

“Okay.”

“Though, just because he won’t cooperate doesn’t mean I can’t do anything. You’ll come with me later to dissect his energy pathways.”

“W-what? Dis… dissect?”

“Mhm.”

Iris held Naya’s hand, leading her out of the lab. She instructed Veltia to summon a team of dragon mages, dressed in white coats, to move Zelan into another room equipped with an operating table.

The so-called dissection was a literal dissection. This group of mages cut open Zelan’s chest, used magic to stop the bleeding, and then stuffed piece after piece of stone into Zelan’s body.

Naya watched from the side, feeling an unexpected sense of cruelty.

“Stimulate his body’s magic circuits.”

The stones were connected to numerous crystal-like tendrils, and the mages used various spells to make these tendrils glow in different colors.

“It’s entirely human magic resonance. No signs of other energy release. Prepare hallucinogenic potions to disrupt his consciousness.”

The mages in white coats injected Zelan with various colorful potions.

[Wow, Iris is really going all out, huh? But even with all that, she still won’t be able to drive my colleague out of Zelan’s consciousness.]

[System, explain to me more about what exactly Iris is trying to do to Zelan?]

[This world is different from one without magic, like Earth…]

The System babbled on, nearly putting Naya to sleep. Its summary, however, was simple: Iris was analyzing the system’s energy output. Any change could help her deduce the System’s effects.

Iris glanced at Naya, noticing her bewildered expression. She took Naya’s hand and led her out of the laboratory.

“Did you see anything?”

Naya shook her head.

Iris thought for a moment.

“If you find this uncomfortable to watch, you can go back.”

“I feel like I’m not helping much.”

“The biggest help you can give me is working together to analyze how the unique energy in your body operates, how it transforms human physiology, and how it makes you so sensitive to energy of the Earth Veins. But… you’re not going to tell me, are you?”

Naya lowered her head, unable to meet Iris’s gaze. Curse the System.

“I won’t force you to tell me. If you don’t want to say it, I’ll figure it out myself. I believe that one day, our hearts will be so in perfect harmony with each other that there will be no barriers between us.”

Iris placed her hand over Naya’s heart, her fingers lightly pressing against the soft flesh, though there was no teasing intent in her gaze, only deep affection.

“Mmh…”

Naya’s heart felt bittersweet, like it was filled with sugar yet laced with the bitterness of a melon—because of the System’s secrecy. She gazed at Iris with warmth in her eyes.

Iris smiled gently and patted Naya’s head.

“Alright, head back. This experiment will take all day. When Illya wakes up and doesn’t see you, she’ll probably complain again that I always like to monopolize her Mama.”

“So…I’ll be going back?”

“Go ahead.”

Naya stepped forward, hooked her arms around Iris’s neck, kissed her on the lips, and asked again with a blushing face.

“I’m really going?”

“Mhm.”

Naya grabbed Iris’s hand, swaying it back and forth reluctantly.

“I’m really going now?”

Seeing Naya acting like a spoiled child, Iris couldn’t help but tease her with a smile.

“Why don’t you stay and watch some more?”

Naya glanced toward the laboratory door, where the mages were busy with their tense and exciting research. This wasn’t exactly the place she wanted to cuddle with Iris. Besides, she couldn’t really help with the experiment either.

“Forget it, I… I’ll go back.”

Only then did Iris nod, her eyes full of affection for Naya.

Finally, Naya left the laboratory and headed back to her palace.

Once she got there, she went upstairs and quietly opened Illya’s door.

But the bed was empty.

Where was Illya?

At this hour, Illya should still be sleeping, right? Illya’s naps usually lasted two hours.

It hadn’t even been two hours since Naya put her to sleep and went out with Iris.

Naya left the room, calling out Illya’s name as she hurried downstairs.

“Illyia, where are you?”

Receiving no response, Naya grew anxious and started down the stairs, calling for Illyia as she went.

“Bella, Nitiya, Flanna, are you home?”

Hearing Naya’s call, Bella and Nitiya rushed over to Naya.

“Bella, Nitiya, where’s Illyia?”

“Isn’t Illya napping?”

Naya’s voice grew harsh in her panic, causing Bella to flinch and lower her head.

“Sh-She was called away by the Her Royal Highness the Princess.”

Her Royal Highness the Princess? Isn’t that Iris’s sister, Chloris?

Remembering Iris mentioning the power struggles between royal siblings, Naya’s expression darkened even further.

“What are you standing there for?! Go find Illya! Nitiya, take me to Chloris. Bella, you’re fast, go search for Illya.”

“Yes, Miss Naya.”

Both Bella and Nitiya lowered their heads in acknowledgment. They had never seen Naya speak so harshly before.

However, they had neglected to keep an eye on Illya, and that was indeed their failing.