Ah. I just made eye contact with the one who turned my mother into a lump of meat. Was it because I was shaking with fear? I quickly tried to burrow deeper into the ground, but the earth trembled and pushed me back out.
It was the first time this had ever happened. The earth wasn’t listening to me. The more violently I tried to dig down, the more it pushed me upwards, as if I didn’t deserve to go deeper.
The thought that I would die if caught drove me into a near-frenzy as I continued to dig, but eventually, I was flung back up to the surface.
And then, there he was. I knew him. He was my father. His appearance, even his dragon traits, resembled mine. Kalpira—the person Mother used to talk about sometimes.
Now, he was staring down at me with two glowing golden eyes, unmoving, his tail still, his gaze unreadable, which made my body shrink in terror.
My instincts were also telling me: this was my father, the one Mother had warned me about as being wicked and dangerous.
“Are you mute? It’s understandable if you are, considering the experiments you’ve been subjected to. How cruel, truly. To harm the child she carried in her womb… How could she do such a thing…?”
Father… was suddenly wondering if I was both deaf and mute. But that wasn’t the case.
I simply couldn’t speak due to shock and fear. Mother is dead. Father killed Mother. He destroyed our home. Why? Mother only said he was bad and dangerous, never mentioning how strong he was.
There was no thought of revenge—not even a flicker of it. How could I possibly entertain such an idea against someone who could crumble a house with a gesture and reduce a person to a pile of flesh with a punch?
At best, all I could manage was to create small mounds of dirt—that was the extent of my power. All I could do now was kneel and beg for mercy.
All I feared was that he might crush me like a bug, just as he did to Mother. But when I thought about kneeling, I remembered Mother watching over me, making it impossible to do so.
The only thing I could do, acting like a dazed person, was to fiddle with my necklace. Even though it didn’t calm my trembling body, it was all I could do.
“…Sa…”
“Hmm? Can you speak? Daughter… hmm. Awkward. Do you understand what I’m saying? Daughter, if you can hear me, tell me your name…”
“Save… please save me! I’ll do anything you ask, please… Save me!”
With my trembling jaw clenched, I blurted out whatever came to mind, trying desperately to survive. I didn’t even know what I was saying, only recalling Mother’s words.
Survive. Therefore, I must survive at all costs.
But how exactly? The man continued to look down at me indifferently, regardless of my pleading. I wanted to grab his pants leg, but I hesitated, fearing he might kick me away.
“You haven’t answered my question yet. I won’t ask again. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Father, seemingly irritated that I interrupted him, asked again with an even more intimidating tone.
“I can hear you! I understand… I get it, Kalpira… No, Father…!”
“You were taught how to speak, weren’t you? Then… hmm. Alright, daughter. I’ll give you a choice. Will you come with me, or will you stay here alone where no one exists?”
Though phrased as a choice, it was essentially an order to follow him. What would happen if I went with him? I don’t know, but staying behind meant certain death.
With everything gone—my home, my mother—I doubted I had any options left. I wasn’t even sure if this place was safe.
In the end, all I could do was shakily take the hand Father extended.
—
Somewhere unknown, surrounded by people whose identities I didn’t know. Though referred to as “people,” they were limited to a woman with black hair who looked ominous, a blond man who seemed frivolous, Father, and a full-figured woman with brown hair.
“It’s been a while since we gathered. Is this all who have come?”
“Everyone’s busy, aren’t they? Besides, who would want to come when the summoner is none other than you? There’s no way anyone would.”
“Shut up, Deuca. Kalpira, does this count as fulfilling your mandatory attendance?”
“…Hmph. You servants of the gods, how is it that all of you are like this? Anyway, Eresh, you’ve done your duty well in attending this gathering. You don’t need to come next time. However… are you still obsessed with this?”
“That’s none of your business.”
The woman called Eresh glared at Father with a chilling gaze. The one called Deuca also watched Father with unfriendly eyes.
Only the brown-haired woman looked kindly upon him.
From everyone present emanated an aura of overwhelming strength, unreachable to ordinary beings. Only the brown-haired woman lacked the dragon features of horns and tails.
“Well, let’s proceed quietly. Thank you for coming, servants. Due to the nature of the matter, I had no choice but to summon you. Please forgive me.”
“No, why should the Goddess apologize? The one who should apologize is that guy over there.”
Goddess? Wait a moment. Why a goddess? Standing between unimaginably powerful beings made my head spin. Surrounded by dragons is terrifying enough, but a goddess?
“Don’t take it too personally, Kalpira. Isn’t this how Deuca always behaves? Today, the reason I’ve gathered you is something you already know. Whether to save or kill this child. Let’s discuss it.”
“I don’t care. Kick him out or something.”
“So, Eresh is counted as abstaining. Deuca, what do you think?”
“Well, obviously I’m for killing him. The image of a father severing his own daughter’s life sounds quite appealing. I’ve seen many depictions of children killing their fathers, but never the reverse.”
The frivolous man laughed cheerfully as he uttered eerie words. Wait, this was the situation I was in? Desperately, I tried to think of any reason why I should live, but nothing came to mind.
“…What a lunatic. Someone who ate their own parents.”
“He agreed, so stop nagging. This is why dealing with those who don’t understand art is so difficult.”
“Enough. Deuca, you’re on the side of killing her. Kalpira, what do you think?”
“…Isn’t it better to save her? I sense talent in this child. Perhaps she could grow to match my power someday. After separating her from Aria, raising her might not be a bad idea.”
“Hmm. Uncharacteristically verbose, aren’t you, Kalpira? So, you’re for saving her. With one abstention and both votes the same… I’ll decide. This child…”
As my life hung in the balance, I could only remain silent. Cold sweat poured down my face. My fate depended on the Goddess’s decision.
“Kalpira, raise her yourself. Since you’ve lived long, you should be able to protect her well from Aria onward. By the way, I haven’t heard your name yet, child. What is it?”
Relieved to be alive, my legs gave out, but I quickly answered her question before she changed her mind.
“A-Altera, yes…! Alterrai…”
“Indeed. That’s right, Altera. There’s no need to tell me your true name. Hmm… this is the first time for such a case, so I don’t know what to say. Serve me. If you do, you shall receive the same treatment as them.”
All I could do was nod while tears of gratitude and fear streamed down my face.
—
Ten years passed. Taken in by Father, I came to understand what Mother had done to me, faced my past, and grew stronger.
A long time if you think about it, yet short in another sense. Today marks exactly one year since I became independent from Father, having been assigned to manage this land.
Despite my inexperience leading to various mistakes, at least… yes. At least I don’t have to worry about dying, which is good. Several foolish humans visited, but every time, I created new canyons and pools of lava on the map, ensuring they stayed away.
In other words, I no longer have to worry about dying. Reflecting on the past, my life was a continuous cycle of worrying whether I’d live or die.
When Father gave me relics. When Deuca handed me strange potions. When I accidentally entered Eresh’s nest. Looking back, it’s a miracle I’m still alive.
And those hunters. The ones who tried to hunt me when Father was briefly absent.
“…Ah, it’s fine now. Calm down, Altera.”
Being alive is enough, isn’t it? Gazing outside my mansion carved from cliffs, I shifted my attention. A winter breeze slipped through the bars, causing me to instinctively pull my cloak tighter despite my body not feeling the cold.
Living alone must make me feel chilly unnecessarily.
Back when I lived with Father, all I wanted was to leave as soon as possible. Now that I’m alone, I find myself wanting company. How ironic.
While locked inside the mansion reading books or examining treasures offered by nearby humans, I sensed someone intruding on my territory.
More hunters, perhaps? Those tiresome ones. However, the number was far too small—just one person.
Challenging a dragon alone?
This made me curious.
Just what kind of madman could it be?
Driven by curiosity, I decided to see his face before deciding to kill him and stepped outside.
“…Alterraite. Ah, sorry. You probably don’t know me. Nice to meet you! I’m Jin Myungho, a hero from Koluscia. Sorry for the abruptness, but… will you go out with me?”
And thus, I met a peculiar man with white hair holding a brush and a strange magic tome who somehow knew my true name.
And without hesitation, he asked me to date him.
What.
Over here, Miss Alterra grew up loved by her father and his colleagues! She looks like this!
