Raise Me, So That I Can Eat You Up - Chapter 5

“Sister. My legs hurt. Where on earth are we going?”

As we continued down a forest path that seemed untrodden by humans, Leon voiced his complaints.

‘I don’t know either. I really don’t. F***.’

I swallowed the curse that almost burst out loud. How do you think I feel, trudging through the forest in a dress and heels?

I just wanted to cry, but I gritted my teeth.

I showed Leon the crumpled map.

“This is the map. Please help me find the way.”

It was a hand-drawn copy I had managed to recreate from the map this unfriendly game had only shown in my mind.

“Whoever drew this did a terrible job.”

“……”

Leon snatched the map and skillfully found the direction. As expected of a former knights’ order executive.

“It’s this way.”

Following him for a while, we soon arrived at the entrance of a cave.

The moss-covered cave entrance looked gloomy.

“You have business here? Seriously?”

Yeah. I want to ask the system if it’s serious too. I sighed involuntarily but squeezed my eyes shut.

“There are reasons. I’ll explain later, so just do as I say without question.”

“Yes, yes. Whatever you say.”

Leon didn’t probe further. He seemed accustomed to following orders after his long stint in the knights’ order.

“It looks dark inside. Do you know how to make a torch?”

“Of course. Don’t underestimate my experience in the knights’ order.”

I wonder if the knights’ order is like a special forces unit in modern terms. Leon was capable in many ways.

As soon as the order was given, he took out some brushwood from his bag and quickly made a torch.

“Here. Is this good?”

I followed Leon’s lead into the dark cave.

“Huff… huff……”

How long had we walked? I was out of breath.

The uneven cave floor was slippery with moisture. Walking on it in heels felt like my toes were about to burst.

[System: You’re almost at the ‘Sleeping Time Bomb’. Just a little more effort.]

[System: Current HP is 18/999, and SP is 2/999.]

‘Hey! Why don’t you try walking a mountain path and into a cave in heels!’

I gritted my teeth at the system and wiped the cold sweat from my forehead.

“I told you. If you were coming to a place like this, you should have worn something comfortable instead of heels.”

“What else could I wear when I only have heels? Walk barefoot?”

Ariella, as the pampered young lady of a viscount, only had fancy shoes in her possession.

I had deliberately chosen to wear flat shoes, but these damn toes were still giving me trouble.

“Sit down here for a moment.”

“Why?”

“Hold this for me.”

Leon sat me down on a rock and handed me the torch.

Then, without hesitation, he took off my shoes.

The cool air enveloped my feet, giving me a comfortable feeling. I unconsciously let out a long breath, and Leon smiled gently.

“I’ll buy you a comfortable pair of shoes when we get home.”

He massaged my feet, too embarrassed to make eye contact.

“It’s fine. What money does an unemployed person have?”

I was equally embarrassed. Who would have thought such a heartwarming scene would unfold between siblings? Having a bodyguard is nice after all.

“That’s why. Sister, please talk to Father and tell him to give me a generous allowance while I’m your bodyguard……”

As expected, he had an ulterior motive. I snorted at Leon’s shallow scheme.

“Until then, please wear these.”

Leon took off his shoes and put them on my feet.

‘Sweet boy. You’d make a good male lead elsewhere.’

I was worried he might be more of a crazy puppy than a big dog.

But seeing this, he wasn’t a level to be ashamed of in front of other female leads.

I smiled contentedly.

“Thanks, but what about you?”

“It’s fine. I’ve been dropped on a deserted island naked during training before.”

“You don’t have athlete’s foot, do you?”

“Wow. Really. That’s too much.”

“I’m joking. Let’s go.”

“Wait a moment.”

Leon rustled around and then popped something into my mouth. A sweet taste spread in my mouth.

[System: Your mood improves due to the effect of ‘Chocolate’.]

[System: HP and SP are recovering.]

The corners of his mouth turned up.

“I’m giving you this so you won’t whine.”

“…Didn’t you just touch my feet with that hand?”

When I asked mischievously, Leon’s face turned red and blue.

“Damn it! Really! It was your feet, not mine!”

“No, thank you.”

The fun of having a younger brother is in teasing him. I moved on with Leon in a (seemingly) friendly atmosphere.

A faint light was visible in the distance. As we walked, the inside of the cave grew brighter. Reaching the end of the long cave, something like an altar came into view.

“This is the end, sister.”

On the altar was a nest made of branches.

I didn’t know what kind of wood it was, but it sparkled gently in the light.

Inside the nest, a large egg was emitting a dim light. Just looking at it, I could feel an ominous aura.

“What is this?”

I approached as if entranced. Startled by my sudden movement, Leon blocked me with his arm.

“Are you crazy? It’s a barrier spell. Ordinary people can’t go beyond this point.”

“What if I go in?”

“You’ll get hurt. Stay back.”

Leon reacted with a sharp tone.

I felt an eerie sensation and touched the survival amulet around my neck.

Was it my imagination? The ‘Dragon’s Scale’ hanging as a pendant reflected an enigmatic light.

[System: Congratulations. You have found the ‘Sleeping Time Bomb’.]

What’s the point of finding it if I can’t even enter because of the barrier?

[System: To remove the barrier, please chant the spell. “Yori-jori-pong”]

I doubted my ears at the unexpectedly strange word.

‘What? Yori-jori? What?’

[System: To remove the barrier, please chant the spell. “Yo. Ri. Jo. Ri. Pong.”]

The system emphasized each syllable as if to make sure I heard it clearly.

‘You system bastards. You’re only overly kind at times like this.’

I wanted to die of embarrassment at the thought of chanting ‘Yori-jori-pong’ in front of Leon, who was staring with wide eyes.

“What are you doing, sister? Why did we come here?”

“……”

Whether I die of embarrassment or from a dragon’s rampage, isn’t it all the same?

I pondered for a moment.

“I asked why we came here?”

“Cover your ears, Leon.”

“What?”

“Please cover your ears. It’s an order.”

At my insistence, Leon reluctantly covered his ears.

‘Right. I can’t let innocent Leon die too.’

I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut.

“Yori-jori-pong.”

As I chanted the spell, the barrier crumbled like a lie. Leon’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Sister. Have you been secretly practicing magic?”

“No. I just picked it up somewhere.”

Even though he probably didn’t hear, I still felt embarrassed. I approached the altar without making eye contact.

“What kind of egg is this?”

“Looks like a dragon’s? See how everything in the nest is sparkling?”

“You’re right.”

“Those are jewels. Dragons love shiny things.”

It was a reasonable guess. Having participated in various subjugation missions, he would know better than me.

As I reached out to touch it, Leon swatted my hand away.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to touch it.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know why we came here, but it’s never good to disturb a dragon’s mood.”

Just then, the system chimed.

[System: Hidden Quest! Strike down the ‘Sleeping Time Bomb’.]

We came all this way to avoid a dragon’s rampage, and now it wants me to strike down a dragon egg?

‘…You crazy game.’

I wanted to deny reality.

[System: Use the ‘Shiniest Rock’ to strike it down.

(Time limit: 60 seconds / Success: ??? / Failure: Dragon’s rampage)]

‘Not only do I have to strike it with a rock, but if I fail, the dragon will go berserk?!’

Regardless of my crumbling mental state, the system continued its cruel demands.

And with a 60-second time limit, no less. Without time to hesitate, I picked up the shining rock and brought it down.

But perhaps because I struck too timidly, the egg didn’t budge.

“Sister! Are you crazy? What are you doing!”

“Stay back. That’s an order.”

Leon’s screams rang in my ears. The system showed no mercy.

[System: That’s not enough. Strike it harder!]

How did I end up with this karma? No, more than that, I felt terrible for the baby dragon that would be destroyed by a rock before even being born.

[System: 10 seconds left. 9, 8, 7……]

I don’t care. I’m more pitiful for being possessed by this crazy game! I struck the egg with all my might.

Crack-

With a bizarre breaking sound, cracks started to form on the egg.

Soon, an enormous ball of light engulfed them.

As the light faded and I managed to open my eyes, a small boy appeared.

[System: Thank you. You have helped hatch the ‘Black Dragon’.]

The moment I met those bright red eyes, he threw himself into my arms.

[System: The ‘Black Dragon’ begins its ‘First Imprinting’ on you.]

‘What?? Imprinting?!’

My eyes widened at the content on the status window.

‘A Black Dragon?’

It was unexpected. I thought some lizard-like creature covered in scales would appear.

Had it already been humanized? At first glance, he looked just like a three or four-year-old child.

Jet-black hair contrasting with a snow-white face. Even the delicate features.

Despite being a young child, he was supernaturally beautiful.

I looked into the dragon’s eyes.

‘These eyes, they seem familiar.’

They were blood-red eyes. The deep pupils emitted a brilliant light like rubies.

‘Where have I seen them?’

Was it my imagination? I had a strange sense of déjà vu.

“Hngh.”

Before I could think further, the Black Dragon burrowed into my arms, making a whimpering sound.