Chapter 14: Above the Running Lady, Flies the Crown Prince (2)

“Ugh…”

Seirin opened her eyes to a ceiling. Surprised to see it wasn’t her usual room, she remembered she was staying in her childhood friend Noah’s house, in the guest room for the day. She calmed her pounding heart, then groaned as her whole body ached and collapsed weakly onto the bed.

“Ah… Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve used Heal until I collapsed. If Noah hadn’t been there…”

She’d only used Heal beyond the average once before—about a year ago, when monsters appeared and the Empire was thrown into chaos. Thankfully, the magic army led by the Empress prevented casualties, but the damage was immense, and there were many injured.

The Empire had many mages, and even more Grand Mages who could use nearly every kind of magic. But only Seirin possessed healing magic—‘Heal.’

Seirin, the only daughter of the Empire’s ducal family, became famous for this. With a former Grand Mage as her mother and a legendary Sword Master as her father, Seirin was called the strongest second generation. When she also gained Thor, a divine power even Grand Mages rarely possessed, she became a promising Grand Mage like her mother. But she refused to become one, wanting only to live an ordinary life.

Yet, the Crown Prince had been persistently proposing to her for twelve years, giving her a headache just thinking about it.

Her last rejection was number 29,999. Just one more would make it 30,000 refusals.

She couldn’t be more resolute.

“Ah, I shouldn’t even think about the Crown Prince. Just thinking about him drains my energy. And…”

Grrrr—

After using Heal, Seirin always felt unbearable hunger, not just fatigue.

She liked snacks, but didn’t realize just how much she loved eating. She ate anything edible without being picky, and once she started, she wouldn’t stop until the food disappeared. She always regretted eating so greedily afterward. At home, where no one cared, she could eat freely, but in front of her tiger-like mother or nagging Rebecca, she had to restrain herself.

Outside home, she had to act like the Empire’s only noble lady and eat with restraint. But Noah’s house was different. Comfortable like her own, and with no one to scold her for eating greedily, Seirin found it perfect.

“I should fill my stomach soon…”

Knock knock.

“Rin, you’re awake?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“I’m coming in.”

Noah entered slowly, followed by maids and servants carrying a mountain of food, leaving Seirin speechless.

“You must be starving. Eat as much as you want.”

“A-All this is for me?”

“Of course. Isn’t this a light meal for you?”

“Well, yeah, but I don’t eat that much at night.”

“Don’t worry, Rin. I brought just enough so it won’t be too much for nighttime. Go ahead, don’t hold back.”

“Th-Thank you, Noah.”

“No need.”

Noah smiled, shrugging his shoulders lightly. Seirin took his hand, got out of bed, and sat at the table set for her. Looking at the spread, she couldn’t help but drool a little, then glanced at Noah, who smiled beside her.

“What? Why are you smiling?”

“Just because you’re cute, Seirin.”

“Are you treating me like a kid too, Noah?”

“Of course not. You’re beautiful. You’ve never not been beautiful, Seirin.”

“You say that even though you know I eat like a beast?”

“I told you, Seirin. Not once have you been anything but beautiful in my eyes.”

‘What’s gotten into him?’

Noah, who always comforted her with gentle smiles and soothing words, now seemed different—his look was serious, his gaze filled with intense resolve.

She shrugged it off and began eating, sipping her favorite soup and moving through the feast at her usual pace. In no time, the table was cleared.

“Rin, should I bring you a fresh strawberry cake for dessert? You love it.”

“I do, but I’m too full right now.”

“Alright, then let’s have it together for breakfast.”

“Sounds good. Ah, I really need a walk. Where’s Riel?”

“She’s in her room, said she has an important test at school tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay.”

Seirin smiled faintly at Noah, who nodded instead of answering. She entered the path she used to walk with Noah and Marchioness Cherbel as a child, feeling the cool night breeze and matching steps with Noah.

“Noah.”

“Yeah?”

“What about that child?”

“She’ll be discharged soon.”

“That’s a relief.”

“She’ll visit your house after she’s discharged.”

“What?!”

Seirin stopped, looking confused, and Noah smiled as he shared what she hadn’t heard while she was unconscious.

“Oh, I see. What about her father?”

“He’ll start chores at the Mage Tower tomorrow. If he earns money, he won’t need to commit any more crimes.”

“As expected. Noah, you’re kind.”

“Kind, huh…”

“Gotta admit, you’re kind. I like you because you’re so kind.”

“Rin…….”

Seeing Seirin smiling right in front of him, showing all her white teeth, Noah felt his heart pounding wildly. He realized this was his chance.

“Rin…….”

KRAAA—

“D-Dragon!”

“Sigh.”

A dragon suddenly breathed fire from the sky. Frowning deeply, Noah quickly pulled Seirin behind him.

Noah knew that if he let this fire-breathing dragon rampage, the Empire would be destroyed in an instant, so he summoned his divine beast, the Water Dragon.

“Noah’s divine beast…….”

Grand Mages can summon divine beasts according to their magical abilities. Seirin had seen a divine beast twice in her life: her mother’s Wind Horse, and her childhood friend Noah’s Water Dragon. Noah, whose water attribute was strongest, told Seirin to climb onto the Water Dragon and get inside for safety, but Seirin couldn’t move. Even for a Grand Mage, fighting a dragon was too much for one person.

“Noah…….”

Clenching her fists, Seirin watched Noah riding the Water Dragon, battling the roaring, fire-breathing dragon with worried eyes. She saw Noah’s water serpent coil tightly around the dragon’s body.

“Ah! That’s Noah for you! Ah! Noah! Behind you!”

There wasn’t just one dragon. It seemed a pair—a male and female—had come down together to hunt prey. Normally, dragons were among the monsters who rarely descended to the human world. But when they did, it was like a war. The relationship between dragons and humans was so bad that they had no choice but to kill each other.

Before the two realms—the demon realm, home to demons and monsters, and this world, home to humans, non-monster beings, fairies, and beastfolk—were split, they were all obsessed with k*lling each other to survive.

This was a survival fight. Those living in this world respected and lived together, but the warlike monsters and demons had to kill or be killed. Occasionally, a stray monster would cross over to hunt for prey.

The larger dragon was probably the male, and the smaller one attacking Noah from behind was the female. If Noah was left alone, he’d become food for two dragons. To save her childhood friend, Seirin summoned her strength and uprooted two large trees.

“Noah! Sorry! I’ll pay you back later! Take this!!!!”

Seirin hurled the two trees at the female dragon with all her might. Hit directly, the female dragon cried out in pain and crashed into the garden.

“Seirin!!”

“I’m fine!”

Waving her arms wildly at Noah’s voice, which rang out from the sky, Seirin approached the fallen dragon.

“Grrrrrr.”

“I’m sorry. But I had no choice. Noah is precious to me, just like that male dragon is precious to you.”

“Grrrr~”

Examining the fierce dragon’s body, Seirin realized the female was carrying eggs.

“You… you’re pregnant. So that’s why.”

‘Don’t pity me, human. Just kill me instead.’

The female dragon’s voice echoed in Seirin’s mind, and she shook her head vigorously.

“K*ll you? You came here because you had to, to save your unborn child, right?”

‘If you don’t kill me and my mate, you’ll regret it.’

“If you attack us again, I’ll have no choice. But if you both stay peaceful and don’t attack, I’ll provide food for you. I heard dragons like meat. I’ll give you as much as you want. I hope we can stop these pointless fights. Don’t you want your child to live in a better place?”

Seirin gently stroked the dragon’s face, who only stared at her with bloodshot eyes.

‘What are you doing, human?’

“Sorry for throwing the tree. Sorry for startling your baby. And I’ll help you. You know, I hope that one day demons, monsters, and dragons like you can live together. I hope for a world where we help one another.”

‘Such naive words. That day will never come. As long as humans or anyone else have hearts that reject and desires to conquer.’

“Still, I’ll try. That’s why I started learning magic. I want to make a world where all beings can live happily and peacefully, just like my mother did.”

‘You really are… a strange human.’

“Thank you.”

‘That’s not a compliment.’

“Still.”

Seirin smiled, and the female dragon smirked, then suddenly burst into dazzling light and transformed into a beautiful woman with red hair.

“Oh my goodness! The dragon turned into a human?!!”

“It’s just a temporary manifestation. We dragons can turn into humans.”

“Amazing!”

The dragon, smirking, said her name was Astana, and her husband’s name was Gertos.

“Astana, please tell your husband too. I’ll provide food and shelter for you both, so please live peacefully here.”

“You trust me and my husband? Once a dragon tastes human flesh, that desire can erupt again at any time—even we can’t predict it.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll help you. I’ll make sure you can adapt and live here comfortably until your baby is born!”

“Really… you’re a strange human.”

Astana smiled again, transformed back into a dragon, and flew up to block her husband Gertos.

‘Gertos. That human woman says she’ll help us.’

‘Astana. You trust the words of a sly human?’

‘She healed me. Even though I could have hurt her. I want to trust her. And I want to give our child a better environment and a peaceful birth.’

‘Well, if you say so.’

‘Talk to her yourself for a bit.’

Nodding, Gertos touched down and transformed into a robust man standing before the wide-eyed woman.

“You want to help us?”

“Yes! I’ll help you. Stay here peacefully until your baby is born. I’ll make sure you can live comfortably here. Trust me, just as I trust you.”

“Human, what’s your name?”

“Seirin. Seirin Damarania.”

“Alright, Seirin. I have something I must do first. Take care of my wife and child.”

“Gertos! No! If you go against the Demon King… Don’t go!”

Gertos gently stroked his wife’s tearful cheeks and kissed her forehead.

“My beloved Astana. For you and our child, I’ll be back soon. Trust only me.”

“Gertos!!!!”

“Seirin, take care of Astana.”

Seirin nodded, and as Astana called for her husband and collapsed to the ground, Seirin gently hugged her from behind and stroked her arms.

“Don’t worry. He’s your husband. He’ll come back. He must.”

“Hic. Hiccup. Hic.”

Comforting the sobbing Astana, Seirin explained the situation quickly to Noah, who approached and asked what was happening.

“Seirin, you…….”

“Don’t worry, Noah. If I master memory alteration quickly, I might be able to help them.”

“Sigh. Really…….”

“Astana, stop crying and let’s go eat something first. Think only about your baby right now!”

Noah took the woman who had briefly turned human from dragon form inside to feed her. He planned to take her to Damarania ducal residence in the morning, ask his parents for permission, and find a place for the couple to live when Gertos returned. All Noah could do was look on with growing concern and sigh.