At the silent High Order.
A single drop of golden dragon blood suddenly fell into the dragon pool, sending out concentric ripples.
The sound of the blood droplet hitting the water was eerily clear, almost as if it echoed in one’s ears and deep within the soul.
As the golden dragon blood gradually dispersed within the pool, waves of black blood mist surged forth from it, writhing in agony as if struggling against purification.
Abraham, standing nearby and gripping his dragon staff, watched this scene unfold in the pool. His expression shifted constantly, seemingly unable to grasp what such a vision might portend.
“Regardless, this awakening from slumber seems to have restrained the curse’s power. At least it hasn’t worsened further.”
“For Your Majesty, this might be cause for some relief.”
Behind him, Alice managed a faint smile, but upon turning to see her sovereign, a hint of reluctance flickered in her eyes.
Not far away, the youth who had remained silent all along rewrapped the bandage around his arm with an expression of detached indifference.
The white bandage was adorned with countless intricate and solemn totems. Where it touched the crimson blood, faint ripples of sealing energy emanated.
The most gruesome sight, however, was the gaping wound that stretched from his wrist almost to his heart.
Dragons were renowned throughout the cosmos for their formidable self-healing abilities.
Even a sword piercing the heart could be healed almost instantly by a dragon of high bloodline, provided it wasn’t a fatal strike. This was why dragons were revered across the universe.
Yet within this wound, the flesh attempting to heal seemed torn apart by some cursed force.
Skin that had just closed and healed would be overtaken by black mist the next moment, bursting open again in fresh gashes, returning to its pre-healing state. This cycle repeated endlessly.
This seemingly endless tug-of-war between opposing forces evoked a despairing agony that seared deep into the soul.
Yet the youth enduring it all seemed oblivious, reapplying the rune bandages with one hand with practiced indifference.
“Your Majesty, if the pain becomes unbearable, perhaps the Sacred Artifact could suppress part of the dragon’s spiritual energy. At least then…” the wounds wouldn’t be torn open again and again.
Abraham bent low, his voice hushed, unable to resist glancing at the sovereign before him, attempting to halt this act.
But in the next instant, Jin Lin had already secured the final bandage. He lifted his gaze to meet the dragon elder bowed before him.
“It is unnecessary, Abraham.”
Suppressing the spiritual energy might halt the dragon body’s self-healing temporarily, but it also carried numerous risks.
The entire High Order relied on the royal family’s spiritual energy for support. Without it, they faced too many uncertainties.
Left behind after being refused, Abraham and Alice exchanged a glance before hurrying after their young sovereign with worried expressions.
This prolonged slumber had left an immense backlog of official duties.
His Majesty had been addressing them since awakening, finally agreeing only now to revisit the Dragon Pool to assess the curse’s status.
Yet this was no matter to be resolved in a day or two. The curse left centuries ago had plagued the entire High Order for nearly a millennium.
Now, an even stranger problem seemed to exist.
“Your Majesty, it appears your spirit form has not returned this time?”
Abraham observed the sovereign before him, recalling the earlier scene at the Dragon Pool. An instinctive sense of something amiss prompted him to cautiously probe.
If the spirit form had returned, the dragon blood should have manifested its dragon form as it had before!!
“Hmm.”
The young monarch remained silent for a moment before responding with a faint, detached murmur, offering no further explanation.
After waiting a long while for an explanation or reason, Abraham and Alice couldn’t help but exchange a glance.
Why did His Majesty seem like… he’d hit puberty?
Unusually, without any reason or explanation??
After all, it was extremely dangerous for the dormant spiritual essence not to return to its host!
“And… Your Primordial Dragon Blood… Why does it seem like a drop is missing?”
After deliberating for a long while, Abraham recalled the scene in the Dragon Pool and cautiously asked.
“What…!? A drop missing from the primordial dragon blood!?”
This time, even Alice looked over in astonishment, clearly unaware such a thing had occurred.
The Emperor’s primordial dragon blood!! That was far too precious!
Casually bestowing it upon others or accidentally losing it were utterly unacceptable!!
“……”
Amidst the succession of inquiries, the boy’s previously overly cold expression finally flickered with a hint of genuine emotion.
It was like sneaking off to the playground for a few kicks after early dismissal instead of heading straight home, only to face the anxious, probing questions of concerned guardians upon discovery.
A mix of guilt and impatience surfaced.
“…………”
After a moment’s silence, Jin Lin returned to his study, flipped open a nearby book, and pressed his chin against his hand with a stony face, pretending not to hear.
He couldn’t fool the dragon elder after all. He should’ve never gone.
The wound hadn’t changed in centuries anyway. Pointless.
= =
“Your Majesty! This is no trivial matter?!”
This time, however, Abraham clearly had no intention of letting his sovereign off the hook so easily.
The spirit form might be temporarily absent for some reason, but the inexplicable loss of a single drop of dragon blood could not go uninvestigated!
Otherwise, it would amount to gross negligence on the part of this Grand Elder!!
Hearing this, Jin Lin sighed softly with subtle frustration before finally lifting his gaze to Abraham, who seemed poised to kneel in apology at any moment.
“Bestowed upon someone.”
Three cold, detached words, as if he wished to discuss the matter no further.
“Bestowed upon someone!?”
Yet the words instantly sent shockwaves through both Elders Abraham and Alice, causing them to cry out in unison.
“Your Majesty! Do you… do you realize how precious primordial dragon blood is? Even if you bestow it upon deserving dragons… you should choose venerable elders or loyal veterans with distinguished service! You must not be swayed into bestowing it carelessly!”
Beside him, Abraham nearly crushed his walking stick in his grip—the first time in tens of thousands of years he’d felt such profound concern.
When did His Majesty start doing things like this!?
And who on earth was it???
“Mm.”
Despite Abraham’s torrent of words, Jin Lin merely rested his chin on his hand, gave a brief “Mm,” and fell silent again.
Abraham, who had always regarded His Majesty as steady, measured, precocious, and possessing the bearing of a true ruler, now desperately wished His Majesty would change his temperament—preferably becoming a chatterbox who would recount everything in meticulous detail.
Who on earth had bewitched His Majesty!?
This must be investigated thoroughly!!!
Jin Lin lowered his gaze to the proposal Heber had handed him, a subtle flicker crossing his eyes.
Could that little beast be thinking of going to the Imperial Academy?
Though Kleist seemed decent enough—the new headmaster appointed this year was certainly no pushover.
As for whether he himself should go…
Why should he go?
That little beast wouldn’t suffer any disadvantages without him.
Besides, he’d likely be welcomed with open arms, just like Ortnes.
As he instinctively reached to flick his dragon tail, Jin Lin suddenly realized he wasn’t in that familiar cub room.
He stood in the center of the vast, majestic Dragon Palace.
Naturally, there was no little beast ready to snuggle up to him at any moment.
Calling out “Ah-Lin” and asking him to help with some meaningless chore.
…But he didn’t feel annoyed.
*
“My apologies, esteemed Principal Sylvester, for keeping you waiting at the door for so long.”
Within the Prince’s residence, Qiu Chongshan greeted the visiting headmaster with a slightly awkward expression.
“Not at all, Your Highness. I only just arrived myself.”
Sylvester smiled, shaking hands and bowing in greeting. He had long heard of this household’s notoriously fierce and brutal beast—now he saw it in person.
The entourage trailing behind Sylvester all seemed somewhat nervous. Had the principal not insisted, they likely wouldn’t have dared to visit…
While commenting on such rumors online or in newspapers was one thing, encountering the real person was quite another.
Yet, the atmosphere inside after being invited in felt strangely off.
It was as if a great battle had abruptly ended, leaving the entire hall feeling eerily empty. Where vases should have stood, there was nothing. Walls meant for oil paintings hung bare.
This seemed oddly at odds with the rumors of a princely mansion known for extravagant, lavish spending.
On the contrary, it felt almost uncharacteristically plain???
“This is my son, Qiu Yiming. As for his older brother, he’s been in Central City these past few days and hasn’t returned home yet.”
Qiu Chongshan cleared his throat a few times, casting a displeased glance at Qiu Yiming seated at the table.
Seated properly behind the desk, Qiu Yiming offered a polite, one-second smile in acknowledgment—save for a rather suspicious scrape mark at the corner of his mouth.
As if he’d just been thoroughly beaten….
?
But wasn’t this guy supposed to be the legendary super-beast rumored to be wildly arrogant, even dismissive of the entire Imperial Star???
Why did he look… rather… rather gentle and shy? (eyes widening in shock)
Whoa, rumors really can’t be trusted!
“Then may I ask, young—”
Just as Sylvester and the others silently pondered this, preparing to address the young cub, Qiu Chongshan smiled for the first time and gestured to the side.
“Ah, the little one’s a bit shy. Says meeting the principal has him all nervous, haha.”……???
This entire family of beasts gets shy and nervous about meeting the principal???
Just as everyone’s pupils shook triple-X, a small figure slowly emerged beside the vase on the dining table.
Hiding behind the vase, it peeked nervously and shyly at Principal Sylvester.
Everyone: !!??
[Wow, the stunningly beautiful principal!! And elf ears!! Baby, go say hello! We prepared a welcome gift too!]
Even the System watched this scene with relish, ready to witness its host Bao’er enrolling! And being personally received by the principal!!
The host is bound to be loved!
“…Te-teacher, hello.”
So, to everyone’s eyes, the little one hiding behind the vase gently flew out, clutching a small flower as it landed before Sylvester.
Are we really giving this? QAQ
[Of course! Since we don’t have carnations, we’ll give a sunflower instead! It’s proper etiquette!]
Encouraged by the system, Qiu Qiu gathered her courage, stood on tiptoes, and offered the little flower to Sylvester.
“Hello, Teacher. My name is Qiu Qiu… May I please attend your school? I’ll study very, very hard!”
The little one’s soft, fluffy voice gently echoed. Paired with that tiny flower nearly as big as his own head, earnestly presented before him, it was simply…
Holy crap, this is just too damn adorable!?
Witnessing this scene, everyone present instantly began questioning their entire existence. This visit had been utterly mind-blowing from start to finish!!
Is this really the Prince’s young cub???
Wait, where the hell did they even come today??? They’d heard about it from Amos before, but this still shattered every preconception imaginable!!
“…………”
Even Sylvester, who was no stranger to beauty, fell silent upon seeing this shy yet earnest little cub. Deep within his silver pupils, a peculiar sparkle began to glimmer.
Except for Admissions Director Amos behind him: …………
Oh no.
The headmaster’s obsession with beauty is about to flare up again, aaaah!!! [pain mask]
“Of course, my child.”
Sylvester gently and treasuringly accepted the sunflower the little cub offered. The next moment, Qiu Qiu’s eyes widened slightly as he was swept into a tight embrace.
“Eh…?!?”
“The gates of Kleist are always open for you! We need cubs just like this! This is the most perfect creation imaginable!!! Every inch is exquisite!”
“Good heavens, this is the greatest gift the divine realm has bestowed upon us elves!!!”
“Holy shit!!”
“Nooooo!!”
[Daddy won’t allow it!!!]
But just as Sylvester leaned in to give the little one an elven cheek kiss, two beastly roars erupted from across the table.
Even the system, inaudible to the others, shrieked in alarm.
Not only did Qiu Yiming, who had been momentarily dazed, snap back to life, but Qiu Chongshan also swiftly snatched his dazed, unresponsive child back into his arms.
By the time Sylvester lowered his head, his arms were already empty.
Ah… What a pity.
[Elf’s Lost Sigh]
Everyone: ?????
The onlookers who had witnessed the entire scene were now utterly dumbfounded.
Why did it look like their principal was the one trying to abduct the cub—a total villain!—while the legendary beasts of this family were the terrified victims, trembling with fear…?
Qiu Qiu, nestled in his father’s palm, covered his cheeks with a dazed expression, his face flushed crimson.
W-what kind of etiquette is this…
O///O
[Dammit, this isn’t etiquette at all! This gorgeous principal is seriously off!!! He just wants to kiss you!!!]
The system, nearly suffering data corruption from fright, was itching to hoist its little one high into the air.
“Ah, my deepest apologies. Seeing such a perfect little cub simply made me a bit… excited.”
“This is a customary gesture among our elven folk. Perhaps our failure to explain it beforehand caused some misunderstanding.”
Sylvester, however, seemed utterly oblivious to the moment’s palpable awkwardness. Instead, his eyes sparkled as he became lost in some indescribable aesthetic reverie.
“But in any case, rest assured—Kleist will definitely produce an exceptionally artistic and visually stunning recruitment video this year!”
“I can already envision the entire galaxy going wild over it!!!”
Qiu Yiming: Huh?
Qiu Chongshan: ………………
Wait—is it too late to withdraw my kid now?
Gotta contact the boss ASAP. What kind of freaking kindergarten is this?!
Everyone: [facepalm]
Oh my god, help! What is this sudden wave of embarrassment over my own principal?!
