Chapter 5 …
Sweetpea ran. And ran again.
The rough, uneven path made her stumble with her already uncomfortable legs. Yet, she couldn’t stop or turn back. She fled endlessly deeper into the forest, unfamiliar with the way, thinking to herself:
“Why is that dragon trying to kill me? What did I do wrong?!”
But looking back at the past, it made sense.
Her sister, Erika, was hardly someone who could do anything wrong. Even without committing any mistakes, one could be killed by others.
That had happened to her sister and family long ago, and now it was her turn. That monster had no reasonable cause for killing humans.
Her left knee, strained from overuse, began to ache painfully. It reminded her of the day she had been crushed under the collapsed stable planks and stepped on by a horse.
Still, Sweetpea couldn’t stop. She did her best to dodge the invisible dragon, running through branches that scratched her face, falling and stumbling multiple times. Yet, with her frail body, even avoiding predators entirely was impossible, especially when even other humans had rejected her.
The forest was densely packed with trees, casting deep shadows. Moonlight filtered through the gaps between split branches, only to vanish moments later, obscured by a sudden gust of wind.
“No way…”
A chilling instinct ran through Sweetpea as she slowly lifted her head.
“Peek-a-boo.”
A dragon, twice the size of a large cow, poked its massive face through the trees. Though not human, it grinned with its mouth stretched wide.
“Ah… ah… aahhh!”
By the time she regained her senses, Sweetpea was already screaming.
“Ah, boring.”
The dragon had shifted back into the form of a human woman, standing before the crouching Sweetpea.
“You’re far too easy to catch for this hunting game. Not fun at all.”
“P-please… s-save me…”
“Since you don’t seem interesting to Lisiancious either, I guess I’ll just kill you quickly.”
Despite her pleading for her life, Ackert stepped closer, scratching the back of his head in boredom. Though the dragon’s expression showed no malice, it was clear he would kill her without hesitation.
‘I want to live.’
Sweetpea didn’t want to die. But she couldn’t think of a way to survive alone. To the dragon, she was merely prey—a young girl, rejected and crippled.
How could she escape this moment? The only way to survive was for someone to help her.
But who…?
Who would risk their life to save her? Even if someone came, it was obvious they’d also lose their life to the dragon.
Then who could possibly save her? Someone strong enough to stop this dragon…
“Do as you wish.”
Only one person came to mind at that moment.
“If this child dies, I will be free.”
He probably didn’t care about her life… He might not even be human…
“L-Lisiancious!”
Yet he was the only one Sweetpea could cling to.
Humans are pitiful, small, and endlessly foolish. The little girl who kept bothering him may have shown him affection in her own way, but that was her problem.
After all, life is fleeting; a blink, and it vanishes like dust. Dying sooner would change nothing…
—Lisiancious!
Her voice rang out in desperation. Ackert had grabbed her, and her call had reached him.
‘Among humans, she really is exceptionally foolish.’
Even after being abandoned and rejected right in front of him, she still called for help.
Lisiancious closed his eyes. He had no intention of responding. Even if Ackert took her life, that annoying voice would be silenced soon enough.
—Lisiancious! Help me! Save me! Lisi… Lisiancious!
The voice persisted, and Ackert seemed to enjoy watching a human beg for life. But Lisiancious was not only irritated by that. Forest creatures peeked from behind the trees, observing him.
Their gaze carried multiple emotions: hope that the girl might be saved, hatred for the dragon ignoring her, and more…
Those creatures, not Lisiancious, had eaten the food Sweetpea brought before. Though they hadn’t exchanged words, a bond had likely formed.
—Lisiancious…!
Lisiancious frowned.
“Annoying,” he muttered.
Images of Sweetpea chattering about things he didn’t care for flashed through his mind:
“Are your eyes okay? It must hurt a lot!”
At first, he had ignored her, but then she said:
“So I spat in Chris’s drink to get revenge! Chris will never know, ever!”
Even in a dull, monotonous routine, her annoying visits had been somewhat entertaining. And it was a small kindness to worry about a stranger going hungry and share her meager food.
It was a shame such a good kid might die.
“…Alright. Such a commendable child deserves a reward.”
It wasn’t that the call for help made him uneasy. It was simply a one-time reward for a child who had done a kind act.
“Li… Lisianc…!”
“Enough.”
Tears finally fell from Sweetpea’s eyes as she called desperately for Lisiancious.
“I found her struggling to live amusing, but now she’s pitiful enough that I can’t leave her.”
“Sniff…”
“Lisiancious won’t come to save you.”
“….”
“He has no intention of joining this god-made dragon war.”
Sweetpea realized the harsh reality. The man she believed treated her like a human wouldn’t come to save her.
Her collapsing hope magnified her fear and misery.
“Please… save me…”
Now, Sweetpea pleaded not to Lisiancious, but to Ackert before her.
“What now? Even if you beg, I cannot save you.”
“P-please…”
“If you’re to resent anyone, resent the gods, not me.”
Time passed as she tried to delay death, but it seemed the end had come. Ackert’s hand grew scales and claws as he neared her.
This time, she would truly die.
Sweetpea closed her eyes, ready to accept her fate. But Ackert’s claw stopped just before piercing her chest.
“What? Pretending not to care?”
Hearing Ackert speak to someone else, Sweetpea cautiously opened her eyes.
Through blurred vision, she saw a figure beyond Ackert’s shoulder, with tears rolling down her cheeks. She could slowly make out the person standing behind.
“Lisianc…ious…”
Lisiancious remained a bystander, but Sweetpea realized that his presence meant he would not make a reckless move. Her dying hope lifted.
“Let her go, Ackert.”
“And if I refuse? I might lose all my prey.”
“Of course. But are you sure that’s wise?”
“What do you mean?”
“I might retaliate.”
“….”
A tense silence followed. Ackert gritted his teeth and pressed Sweetpea’s neck harder.
“Ugh…!”
But Lisiancious’ warning didn’t end there.
“Even if you take her heart, I can pull your head from your body.”
“….”
“You will never become a god.”
Ackert’s hand trembled, then gradually relaxed.
‘Never become a god…?’
Panting, Sweetpea listened to their conversation, though most of it was beyond her comprehension.
“What can you do with that weakened body? You underestimate me.”
“Even weakened, you’re not worth killing.”
“Pretending to be strong!”
“If you’re curious about my power, kill her and test it.”
Ackert’s hands still held her neck, though hesitation trembled in his grip.
“This is your last warning.”
“….”
“Find another dragon’s mate.”
“….”
“Do not touch mine, or it won’t end well for you.”
Eventually, Ackert’s grip fully loosened, and Sweetpea fell to the ground.
“Pretending to be loyal, huh.”
“….”
“This cute little one is lucky.”
Ackert glanced at Sweetpea, annoyed, but seemed unwilling to harm her further. He transformed back into a dragon and flew away.
The gust from his wings battered Sweetpea with branches and grass. As the crimson dragon vanished through the dark foliage, bright moonlight pierced the treetops.
With the threat gone, fear slowly turned to relief. But a question arose in Sweetpea’s mind:
“Why… did you save me?”
She was grateful to Lisiancious, yet his actions were incomprehensible.
“You didn’t care if I died.”
“True.”
“Then why…?”
“Consider it payment for sharing food.”
Even though he hadn’t eaten any of it…
“Not a second time. If you want to live, stay away from me.”
Lisiancious turned to leave. But Sweetpea had one last question.
“What are you?”
She suspected he wasn’t ordinary. No one could transform from a flower into a person. And a dragon backing down to his warning? He had to be stronger than that dragon.
Who on Earth could be stronger than a dragon, except Lisiancious…
“Are you a dragon?”
“….”
“Like that woman earlier, are you a dragon too?”
The one who tried to kill her, the one who destroyed her village and killed her sister… was he the same?
Sweetpea nervously stared at Lisiancious’ lips, hoping for a “no.” But the world rarely bends to her wishes.
“Yes, little one.”
Lisiancious admitted it casually. No matter how she reacted, he didn’t care. Sweetpea felt betrayed despite knowing it was absurd.
A dragon…
Had she known from the start, she never would have sought him daily—even if he always annoyed her.
She wouldn’t have shared her food… though he probably never ate it.
Even with one eye covered, Sweetpea found Lisiancious beautiful but terrifying, reminiscent of the gray dragon that destroyed her village.
Or perhaps he was that dragon.
The thought sent tremors through her eyes.
“Scared?”
She could only muster silence, then forcefully got to her feet.
“A-ah…”
Slowly retreating, she turned and ran. Lisiancious had saved her, yes, but he was a monster—the same kind that had killed her family.
Monsters could turn on her anytime. She had to escape. She had to warn Lady Margo and the villagers. She wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
Running toward the village to warn others, she limped painfully, only to realize something was wrong as she entered the tavern.
“Sweetpea Loren!”
Lady Margo appeared on the first floor, not the bedroom, in the middle of the night. She looked furious.
“Mom! That girl hit me, scratched me, and let rats loose on me!”
Sweetpea understood immediately. Chris, hiding behind Lady Margo, smirked.
He must have exaggerated the story to his advantage. Normally, she got punished, not him.
Lady Margo adored her only son, so this was serious. Surprisingly, this moment felt scarier than facing the red dragon.
Sweetpea tried to explain, her voice trembling:
“I-I… it’s not what you think, I…”
“Quiet! I took in an orphan, and she dares to touch my son?!”
But her excuse was cut short.
Snap!
Sweetpea’s head was forcefully turned by a strong hand.
