Raise Me, So That I Can Eat You Up - Chapter 8

Indeed, it was an impressive appetite. Oscar devoured the food in front of him hastily.

[System: ‘Black Dragon’ is hungry.]

You must have been very hungry. The Hayworth family was watching in awe at the dragon’s incredible eating capacity.

“Is it delicious?”

“Mm.”

Oscar nodded with his mouth full of food. Unlike earlier when he was scared, he now looked very excited.

There were forks and knives in front of him, but he didn’t seem to know how to use them.

‘If he’s going to pretend to be human, I’ll have to teach him.’

It seemed education would be necessary, but today was an exception.

He came here right after hatching without a mother, so I wanted to let him eat comfortably, at least for this meal.

I watched Oscar eating intently.

‘How pretty. The clothes suit him well.’

For now, we had him wear clothes that Leon used to wear when he was young.

After being washed and dressed, he looked even more radiant.

If he didn’t eat with his hands, he would look just like the youngest child of a noble family.

Today’s menu was chicken. Oscar grasped the chicken leg with his small hand.

The way he was earnestly gnawing at it looked quite determined.

‘Just watching him eat makes me feel full.’

Though I was tired from the long day, I strangely felt satiated. This must be the ‘my child effect’.

Worried that he might choke on chicken bones, I picked off only the meat for him.

As fast as I could separate the meat, Oscar gobbled it up in the blink of an eye.

“Have this too.”

I offered the chicken dish that was served as my portion.

At this, Viscount Hayworth and Leon made sour expressions.

“……Ari?”

He looked just like a wild animal, but it seemed he could worry about me too.

I found it cute and smiled contentedly.

“I’m fine. Please eat a lot, Oscar.”

“Hehe.”

Oscar, finally seeming reassured, smiled brightly and focused on his meal.

Viscount Hayworth, who had been quietly observing, dismissed the servants.

“Ariella. Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m eating. I just don’t feel like meat today.”

I answered half-heartedly, putting a piece of potato from my plate into my mouth.

And I continued to focus on picking meat off the bone for Oscar. Oscar quickly finished my portion too.

The Hayworth father and son were also strangely unable to concentrate on their meals.

He had already far exceeded the meal portion of a normal child.

Yet, Oscar still seemed hungry.

“Papa.”

“You’re eating too much. Won’t you get a stomachache if you eat more?”

“Hing.”

Dejected by my words, Oscar’s gaze fixed on Leon’s plate.

In fact, Leon had barely eaten, too busy watching Oscar.

“What.”

Leon, noticing the gaze, asked dryly.

“……”

“What. Why. What.”

“Papa.”

It was as good as asking for it. Leon frowned as if to say ‘You’ve got to be kidding’.

“Fine. You eat it all. Eat it.”

And Leon handed over his plate irritably.

Regardless, Oscar reached for the chicken without a care.

I stopped him and scolded Leon.

“Leon. Stop giving him more. He’s already eaten enough.”

“He’s a dragon. He’s different from normal kids.”

“Is that so?”

“Leave him be. I’m curious to see when he’ll finally be full.”

“Are you experimenting on Oscar?”

“No. He was born this big, right? It’s an incredible growth rate.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Then wouldn’t his eating capacity be extraordinary too?”

It did make sense when I heard it. Leon did have more experience with dragons than I did.

This was my first time seeing a dragon.

[System: ‘Black Dragon’ is still hungry. Please provide sufficient food.]

Leon was right.

As I wavered, the kind system drove the point home.

“Hey Leon, do dragons mainly like to gnaw on meat?”

Observing him, Oscar was oddly eating only meat.

“Well, dragons do tear apart humans.”

“No, I mean, are dragons carnivorous?”

“I’m not sure if they eat that.”

“So you don’t know either.”

“Nope.”

Leon scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

‘I guess I’ll need to study about dragons.’

After all, I decided to take responsibility until he grew up. If I’m going to raise him, I need to know properly.

Oscar, having finished Leon’s portion as well, changed his target.

“……”

Viscount Hayworth looked at Oscar with a bewildered face, as if he had found his prey with a persistent gaze.

“Do you want to eat this too?”

When Viscount Hayworth held out his plate, Oscar smiled faintly.

“Oscar. You should say, ‘Thank you.’”

I seized the opportunity to teach him manners. Oscar opened his eyes wide and slowly repeated.

“Than… kyou…”

They say all dragons are intelligent. Although the pronunciation wasn’t perfect, he seemed to learn quickly.

I smiled contentedly, feeling like I had taught him something good.

“That’s right. Now to Leon too.”

“Hmph.”

For some reason, he didn’t seem to like Leon.

Leon’s brow furrowed at this.

“It’s fine. What glory do I get from being thanked by that thing?”

I took Oscar’s plate for a moment and spoke again.

“Oscar. Leon gave you food too, didn’t he?”

“Tch.”

“Leon is someone to be grateful to. You should say ‘Thank you.’”

“No.”

Oscar turned his head away. I met Oscar’s gaze with a generous face.

“Can you tell me why?”

“Earlier, Oscar Ari hate odie. Go away. Get lost, he said.”

It seems he still held a grudge from the cave incident.

‘They say babies remember such things even when they seem not to, it’s true.’

It seems he was hurt by being suddenly rejected. I felt somewhat sorry for him.

“That was because he didn’t know how kind you are, Oscar.”

“Really?”

“Right, Leon?”

I gave Leon a look. Leon still had a sour expression.

I mouthed ‘Do you want to die?’ towards Leon.

Finally seeming to surrender to my pointed threat, he let out a deep sigh.

“Yeah. I misunderstood. You’re a very. Kind. Dragon. I guess I was stupid. Me.”

You should finish it properly. I continued to glare threateningly.

Leon, under my threat, squeezed his eyes shut as if he had no choice.

“S-Sorry. Dragon. No, Oscar.”

“See? Leon understands now too.”

Having obtained the desired answer, I smiled brightly at Oscar. Oscar’s face softened in response.

“……Thank you. Leo.”

Seeing him apologize awkwardly made me want to bite him.

“Aww. You’re so good. Oscar. Well done.”

As I glared again, Leon forced a smile.

“Ah, hahaha, haha. Good. Very good. That.”

This should be enough. I picked the meat off the chicken and gave it to Oscar.

I felt full even without eating, and Oscar had a happy meal until his stomach was bulging.

***

After feeding Oscar dinner, I came up to my room. The maids were just preparing the bed.

I had made up an excuse for the maids. That I was temporarily taking care of a child of a very important person.

Well. It wasn’t exactly a lie.

“Oscar. These are the maids who help me. Say hello to them.”

Oscar hid behind my skirt with a sour expression.

“The young master seems to be shy.”

“How cute. How can he be so pretty? He’s like an angel.”

As the maids fussed over how cute he was, he seemed frightened.

“Girls. He seems a bit startled. Just a moment.”

I smiled and stopped the maids. Then I crouched down to meet Oscar’s eyes.

“Oscar. Are you surprised?”

“……”

“It’s okay. They’re good people. We’ll see them often, so we should greet them.”

Oscar still had an uneasy look in his eyes, unfamiliar with the situation. I stroked his soft cheek.

“This is Jenny, and this is Laura.”

“Go ‘way.”

“Pardon?”

My eyes widened at the harsh words from his small mouth.

“This Ari’s room. Don’t need them.”

“What do you mean we don’t need them? I can’t live without Jenny and Laura.”

Telling someone he just met to go away out of the blue. He was being completely unreasonable.

They had only greeted him, telling them to go away was Oscar’s fault.

‘Should I be firm and strict this time?’

I’ve been indulging him because he’s cute. But if he keeps acting like this, it’ll be troublesome since he’s not staying for just a day or two.

“Oscar.”

I called Oscar with a determined face.

“Mm.”

“Whose house is this?”

“……Ari’s.”

“That’s right. Ari decides who stays in Ari’s house, and you’re here with my permission too.”

“……”

“So only Ari can tell them to go away. Do you understand?”

He blinked his big eyes and pouted his lips as if something was unfair. I wanted to bite him because he was so cute, but I couldn’t weaken.

If I gave in now, I’d keep being swayed by this willful hatchling.

“……I get it.”

“Now, quickly apologize to Jenny and Laura.”

Ariella pushed Oscar towards the maids.

“No. Hug me.”

Oscar turned his body abruptly, trying to hug me as if he was in trouble.

I caught both of Oscar’s hands and made him stand at attention.

“Not until you apologize. If you act selfishly, you can’t stay with me.”

“Hing.”

His soft cheeks were puffed up. That cute sight made my whole body tingle.

‘No. Cute is cute, but I can’t overlook him being so unreasonable, even to the maids.’

If I show any weakness, he’ll surely take advantage of it. I clenched my jaw.

“Oh, Miss, you don’t need to go this far for us.”

“We’re fine, really.”

The maids were sweating nervously, caught in the middle.

“No. I can’t stand anyone treating my people rudely.”

No matter how cute, I don’t need such a baby dragon. I looked into Oscar’s eyes with a solemn face.

“Now, repeat after me. Jenny. Laura.”

“……”

“Then I’ll wait until you’re ready. I have plenty of time.”

Seeing it wasn’t working, Oscar spoke in a submissive voice.

“Je-Jenny… Laura.”

The maids’ pupils dilated.

“Sorry for speaking scary.”

“……Sorry for… speaking scary.”

Although it seemed forced, an apology was still an apology.

“It’s okay, Oscar. We’ll serve you wholeheartedly, just like we serve the young miss.”

“Me too. So please look upon us kindly.”

Even as the maids joked around, Oscar looked like he was about to cry.

“You did well, Oscar. That was cool.”

“……”

“Come here.”

I stretched out my arms and called Oscar. Oscar hesitated.

“Quickly now.”

When I urged him with a smile, Oscar rushed into my arms.

“Admitting your mistake and apologizing well is the coolest thing.”

I patted Oscar’s bottom and kissed his cheek.

“……Heh.”

Oscar’s cheeks turned pink, and he seemed overjoyed, nuzzling his head against my shoulder.

“Oscar. If you want to keep staying with me, you need to get along well with the people here.”

I cupped Oscar’s soft cheeks with both hands.

This made Oscar pursed his lips, and he looked at me with round eyes.

“Can you do that?”

“Mm.”

Oscar nodded his head vigorously.