Chapter 77
Karna placed his clasped hands over his crossed legs and let out a sigh.
“The child of Akansas has disappeared. This is the worst incident in history, one that may never happen again.”
Babbere’s heart raced as she waited for him to continue. But he only sighed repeatedly and didn’t say anything further.
“So?”
Babbere couldn’t hold back and asked. Karna ignored her question and glanced at the clock. Soon, Sisel’s bath would be finished.
“I’ll tell you the rest of the story if you tell me what she likes.”
Babbere glared at him, incredulous that he was setting conditions while acting so high and mighty.
“Then just tell me this—am I that child?”
Confusion swirled in Babbere’s mind.
She had never doubted that her biological father was Count Rance, but judging from the flow of the story, she began to wonder if her real father might actually be Akansas.
“If you want to know, then tell me what she likes, what she needs. Speak.”
Karna pressed his lips tightly and lifted his chin, as if refusing to speak until he got what he wanted first. Faced with Karna’s firm demeanor, Babbere turned to Kur.
“Hey, Kur. You really don’t know?”
After all, they were the same species of dragon. Surely Kur would know at least some rumors about Akansas and his child.
Karna let out a soft snicker.
“How could a little one who’s only just been born know anything?”
“You mean you thought it was your grandfather, but it’s a child?”
She had acted so full of herself—but was this person actually younger than her?
Seeing Babbere’s suspicious glance, Kur frowned.
“It’s true he’s younger than that old dragon, but older than you.”
“Not a child, just young,” Kur emphasized. At the mention of being old, Karna’s temper flared.
“I am an ancient dragon! That’s true… but I haven’t lived that long.”
“Seems you don’t understand what ‘ancient dragon’ means. Or maybe you’re so old that you’ve forgotten even that simple fact.”
Kur sneered, and Karna clenched his fists and lifted his hips slightly in response. Kur shot him a sidelong glance and scooted a little closer to Babbere.
“Your Majesty, keep in mind—ancient dragons are often more ferocious.”
Kur leaned close to Babbere’s ear and whispered.
“I had no resentment toward the King of Lancaster, but hearing that Karna is his companion… I genuinely feel sorry for him.”
How tragic must that woman’s life be? What crime had she committed?
Karna’s fists trembled as Kur openly mocked him. He snorted indignantly, glaring at Kur, who trusted Rance and teased him.
“If the dragon’s companion feels pitiful, what about yours?”
Babbere asked. Kur raised an eyebrow, as if stating the obvious.
“My companion is happy. I always take good care of him.”
It was irritating that Kur would even compare himself to Karna.
“Don’t you see how gentle I am for a dragon? Look at that ancient dragon!”
Babbere alternated her gaze between Kur and Karna. Thinking about it, Kur wasn’t wrong.
Even if he said no, he still listened to everything she said. If he did that for her, how much more care would he give his companion?
And he was always by his companion’s side. So he must have secretly met her while pretending not to, right?
Babbere pouted.
“Your companion is lucky. I don’t know who it is, but it’s a thoroughly secret affair.”
She turned her head sharply, resting against the arm of the sofa and closing her eyes with a frown.
“Hey, Rance. Don’t fall asleep—answer me. I’m asking what she likes.”
Karna didn’t give her a moment to gather her thoughts.
Unable to resist his insistence, Babbere reluctantly opened her eyes. The truth was, she didn’t know much about Sisel.
Still, since Sisel often drank with her whenever they met, she guessed that she probably liked alcohol.
Just as Babbere was about to give her estimate, Karna interrupted.
“If you don’t know, go find out. Don’t just answer vaguely.”
Karna had preempted her somehow. Pouting, Babbere got up and shuffled out of the room.
“Kurkuma.”
Hearing Babbere’s footsteps fade, Karna called to Kur.
“Could it be that Rance still doesn’t know?”
“….”
“You’re really hopeless. How long do you plan to hide it?”
“Mind your own business and take care of yourself.”
Kur answered sulkily, refusing to be interfered with. Karna twisted his lips.
“Rance isn’t here beside you right now.”
The cold tone made Kur flinch slightly at the back of his neck. He propped his chin on his hand, hesitating, and finally spoke.
“I don’t know how Babbere will react if I tell the truth.”
He knew she was unconsciously jealous of her companion. That was both delightful and cute.
But it wasn’t just that he stayed silent to enjoy the situation.
“I thought Babbere would be happy if I revealed that I’m a dragon. As you know, the result was disastrous.”
It wasn’t a revelation made intentionally. Still, Kur never imagined Babbere would try to kill him.
“If she hears that you’re actually her companion, would she be happy?”
Kur didn’t think so. The image of Babbere firing a ballista at him kept replaying in his head.
It was different from before. He had spent a lot of time with her, shared emotions, and gained her trust.
Still, he couldn’t shake the unease. Kur knew he couldn’t confess until that unease was resolved.
He thought it would be easier if Babbere realized it herself.
“But that fool has no sense at all.”
Kur brushed back his hair and sighed.
“Coward.”
Karna criticized Kur. Kur internally admitted that Karna wasn’t wrong—but he didn’t want to hear it from Karna.
“I’m better than you, since at least I can speak directly to my companion.”
Kur objected, and Karna’s eyes sharpened. Then he lifted one corner of his mouth.
“Just wait. Even if you met your companion first, I’ll be the one to succeed first.”
Karna showed confidence, as if he had a plan.
When Babbere arrived, Sisel had just finished bathing and was fully dressed.
“G-Go—Your Majesty.”
Babbere awkwardly corrected herself. Sisel, adjusting her clothes in the mirror, looked at her.
“Do you need something?”
Sisel raised her eyebrow in silence at Babbere’s question.
“Am I in a position to demand something?”
“Kar… Karna told me to ask you.”
Babbere spoke awkwardly, sensing Sisel’s sharp gaze. Sisel smiled faintly.
“Is this a trap?”
“Not likely. I wouldn’t do anything dangerous to Your Majesty…”
Babbere’s words trailed off. She had heard the tragic stories of humans chosen as dragon companions, and of course from Karna himself.
Babbere couldn’t be sure Karna wouldn’t do something dangerous to Sisel.
“Maybe Your Majesty could be in danger…”
Sisel watched Babbere muttering suspiciously in the mirror.
“Why do you keep calling me ‘Your Majesty’?”
“If you don’t like it, I can say ‘Madam.’”
Sisel’s gaze sharpened further. Babbere awkwardly pouted and shrugged.
“I don’t know what to call you.”
She was no longer a princess, and she couldn’t be addressed as ‘Her Majesty.’ Pumpkin had referred to her as “friend” in letters.
Friend… such a word felt too embarrassing to say out loud.
“You’ve always been shamelessly blunt, haven’t you?”
Sisel let out a light snort. It didn’t seem unpleasant, and her gaze had softened compared to before.
“Call me Sisel. Did you ask what I need?”
Sisel turned to Babbere. Compared to fighting the ice golem, her complexion was better, but paler than when they saw her in Fornien.
“The bathwater is too lukewarm. I still feel cold.”
It seemed Karna had failed to adjust the temperature. Babbere nodded and returned to the room where Karna was waiting.
“Karna! Sisel likes her bathwater hot!”
Karna, who had been waiting eagerly, raised his head.
“Hot bathwater?”
He rushed to Babbere and whispered.
“Yes. And she seemed quite displeased because the water was lukewarm.”
At Babbere’s simple remark, Karna’s face went pale as snow.
“I was worried if it was hotter, she might get burned…”
“Even after bathing, she felt cold?”
“Y-Yes! Of course!”
Flustered, Karna stammered. He had truly agonized over the bath temperature.
But she felt uncomfortable? It was lukewarm and cold?
It was like a thunderclap. Karna could only think of one thing—he had to fix this mistake immediately.
“Then tell her I’ll guide her to a new bath. This time, it’ll really be hot!”
Karna used magic to create a door to another location. Beyond the glowing circle, a strange landscape filled with rocks appeared.
“Hurry.”
Karna entered first and gestured. Seeing no one move in caution, he called Kur.
“You go first. That way, even suspicious Rance will follow!”
Rance had to enter for Sisel to feel safe!
Kur clicked his tongue and entered.
“It’s okay, Your Majesty. There’s no trap.”
Yet Kur’s expression suggested otherwise. Babbere felt uneasy but bravely stepped through the door.
“Isn’t it hot in here?”
Unlike the snowy plains, the air was sweltering. All around were black rocks.
“This is Mount Urano.”
“Mount Urano? Isn’t that a volcano?”
As Babbere wondered, a whooshing sound came from behind. The door closed automatically as Sisel entered.
“This way!”
Karna scrambled up the black rocks and pointed downward. Babbere followed his finger and gasped.
“Is this correct? That’s magma, not a hot spring!”
Karna had led them to a crater, calling it a “hot bath.”
A dragon would even consume a human to protect their companion in its belly. Babbere had half doubted the story—but now she believed it. There was a dragon trying to immerse its companion in a volcano.
Babbere glanced at Sisel’s profile. Unsurprisingly, her expression was displeased, and her lips were bluish.
Indeed, the human chosen as a dragon’s companion must be the one in the most danger.
“Are you saying that if a human dares to demand something from a dragon, they’ll toss them in there?”
Sisel looked down at the rising red magma. Sweat had formed on her forehead and hands from the heat, but her fingertips were steadily getting cold.
