After the contracts with the imperial family ended, Kail rested in Bellion’s room with Arthur.
Bellion wiped off his cold sweat and let out a deep sigh. Knowing how much Bellion had struggled, Kail smirked and gave him a pat on the back.
“Good job.”
“…Couldn’t you have gone easier on them?”
“If I did, would things have turned out like this? Even if they were Masters, they wouldn’t have been interested in someone weaker than themselves.”
Hearing that, Bellion fell silent for a moment before nodding. Kail was right. If Kail had lost to the Knight Order or Myungwol, what would’ve happened?
They might have wanted him as a Master who achieved that status in his teens, but they wouldn’t have reacted as enthusiastically as they did now.
The second prince, who didn’t have a Master, probably would’ve tried to recruit him alone, offering an insultingly low price.
“In the end, it’s fortunate…”
“Yeah. As long as the result is good, that’s all that matters.”
Kail grinned as he looked at Bellion. He couldn’t keep smiling forever though. There was one more right Bellion had earned thanks to him.
“By the way, what are you planning to do about that?”
“What do you mean ‘that’?”
“You know, the policy stuff we talked about.”
“Oh… that. I’ll sell it after getting some decent rights, or maybe appoint a proxy.”
“You’re not thinking of doing it yourself?”
At those words, Bellion shook his head.
“I’d like to do it myself… but I don’t have the power. I don’t have any nobles supporting me, and it’s not something simple enough to balance alongside Academy duties. I’ll probably sell it to Rihito-nii or Ludmira-nee…”
*KNOCK KNOCK.*
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Knowing no one should be visiting him now, Bellion tilted his head in confusion and looked toward the door.
“Who is it?”
—Big Brother, I’m coming in.
“…Come in.”
As soon as Bellion gave permission, a young girl cautiously appeared. Seeing her golden hair and youthful appearance, Kail realized she was the second princess he had seen earlier in the dining hall.
The youngest of the Dairoz Imperial Family. Ash Dairoz.
This girl, younger than Bellion—the fourth child—was beloved by the Emperor and all members of the royal family.
“Ash, what is it?”
“Just…”
“I’m busy right now. Can you come back later?”
Hearing Bellion’s words, Ash started to pout. Seeing this, Bellion scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Though Ash likely hadn’t come here for political reasons due to her young age, there was still a high chance that whatever she saw or heard here could reach other royals through her.
She shouldn’t stay, yet… Bellion couldn’t bring himself to kick her out.
“Kail, sorry.”
“What’s there to apologize for? The youngest always grows up loved.”
Instead, Kail called Ash over and sat her on his lap, starting to stroke her head. Feeling comfortable, Ash leaned against his chest, clearly enjoying the attention.
As Arthur watched the two suddenly grow close, he felt something was off when his clothes began to bulge unexpectedly.
“Ah, wait-!”
*RIIIIIP.* Star Tail emerged from Arthur’s uniform, tearing it slightly, and locked eyes with Ash, who was being pampered in Kail’s arms.
The baby dragon gazed at the young royal, who smiled faintly and opened her arms wide.
“Come here.”
“Kyuuu-.”
Hearing Ash’s call, Star Tail immediately flew out of Arthur’s grasp and into Ash’s arms. She hugged the little dragon tightly, grinning ear to ear.
It was like watching a little girl receive her favorite stuffed animal.
“Aha, ahaha-!”
Watching Ash cuddle and adore Star Tail, Bellion turned to Kail with a stern expression.
“…Kail, and Arthur. Care to explain what’s going on?”
“It’s a dragon.”
“…A dragon?”
“Yeah. A dragon. I got a dragon egg from the Academy treasure vault recently and somehow managed to hatch it.”
“You hatched a dragon!?”
It was hard to believe, but with the evidence right in front of him, Bellion couldn’t deny it. He stared at Star Tail in Ash’s arms and sighed deeply.
“If something like this happened, you should’ve told me beforehand…”
“Sorry.”
“At least you could’ve mentioned bringing it today. What if someone else found out?”
Bellion glared at Arthur as he spoke. Arthur, unsure what to do, began sweating profusely.
It was indeed miraculous that the dragon’s identity hadn’t been discovered despite entering the palace. They hadn’t been searched because they were guests of a prince, and luckily, Star Tail hadn’t caused trouble—but what if it had revealed itself during dinner?
“Interest in Kail would’ve dropped, and Star Tail would’ve been confiscated by the Empire as a rare creature.”
“But… Star Tail can’t be raised using normal methods…”
“Do you think anything’s impossible for the Empire?”
“…True, I guess.”
Dragons grow by consuming magic power. The amount required is so vast that even someone like Arthur wouldn’t be able to handle it—but at the Empire level, solving that problem would be easy.
If one person couldn’t do it, many could.
The Empire overflowed with knights and sorcerers possessing magic power—more than enough to sustain a single dragon.
“Pip pip-!”
“Aha ha!”
“…Amazing. I’ve never seen Star Tail take to someone so well.”
“That’s only natural.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
While Arthur tilted his head in confusion, Ash, still holding Star Tail, looked up at Kail stroking her head and said:
“Big Brother, Big Brother. Pet me more.”
“Sure, alright.”
“Hehe- Big Brother, I like it.”
At Ash’s request, Kail enthusiastically stroked her head again. Watching this, Arthur sensed something strange.
Kail rarely showed such affection even to his fiancée, yet here he was being overly kind to Ash, whom he’d just met today. It seemed excessive, even considering her young age.
Noticing Arthur’s suspicion, Bellion explained:
“You saw it, right? Ash is… a Power Capacitor who ‘is loved by everyone.’”
“Loved by everyone…?”
“Yeah, her output isn’t strong enough to control people like hypnosis, but…”
Born into royalty, her modest output actually worked in her favor. Though weak, its versatility surpassed other ability users.
“With the royal family’s naturally beautiful looks combined with an ability that works on anyone, regardless of rank… things change.”
Even without this ability, Ash would’ve been adored as royalty. But with her innate talent, she became universally loved.
The Emperor and the rest of the royal family doting on her, Kail fawning over her upon their first meeting, and even Star Tail following her—all stemmed from this.
Ash Dairoz, the second princess, was born destined to be loved by all.
“Kyuu kyuu-!”
“Aha, that tickles…!”
After playing with Star Tail for a while, Ash looked up at Kail and began acting cute.
“Big Brother, Big Brother. I want this—can I have it?”
“Hmm?”
“The dragon. I want it as a pet.”
Ash instinctively struck a pose guaranteed to make maids squeal and hand over whatever she desired.
Having never failed to get what she wanted in her life, Ash assumed she’d easily obtain Star Tail too.
“No.”
“…Why not?”
But this time was different. At Kail’s firm refusal, Ash teared up and asked again.
Seeing the sniffling child, Kail reiterated his refusal.
“I can’t give it to you.”
“But… I want it…”
“I said no.”
“Huuuuk, I really want it-!”
Watching Ash sniffle, Kail frowned slightly, unintentionally exuding a hint of killing intent.
The faint killing intent from the Aura Master pierced Ash, making her forget her tears and hiccup instead.
Kail looked down at Ash, who had stopped crying, and spoke:
“Listen, kid. Some things in life just aren’t possible. Got it?”
“Ye-yes…”
Arthur and Bellion began whispering to each other after seeing Kail subdue Ash so quickly.
“…Kail doesn’t seem affected by her ability.”
“Yeah, does he even have a heart?”
The two gossiped behind Kail’s back while consoling the sniffling Ash. Fortunately, Ash stopped crying and left the room.
