THTE 56

Chapter 56

The little black kitten they had met in the forest was actually another form of the Evil Dragon Ater.

Dragons had the ability to take on various forms. People revered this as transformation or polymorph.

However, since Evil Dragon Ater wasn’t even six months old yet, the only form he could take was that of a kitten.

He couldn’t even change the color of his fur.

“Just thinking about that time still makes my heart jump out of my chest. That brat tried to kill the kind Evil Dragon who came to help her…!”

Evil Dragon Ater grumbled on and on.

In the carriage headed to the Magic Tower’s kindergarten, it wasn’t only Nivellia, Areph, and Deter.

“This one is surprisingly talkative.”

That was Aunt Armiphera, the children’s guardian.

“You say that because you didn’t go through it! Your niece tried to kill me! Said she would rip out my tiny throat and kill me!”

And Evil Dragon Ater was also there.

He had returned to his true form after being released from the cage.

Today, the Evil Dragon’s outfit of choice was a purple cape and lace anklets, neatly secured with cute bead pins around his front legs.

Come to think of it, dragons were said to like shiny things, weren’t they?

Deter secretly wondered if the dragon’s obsession with dressing up was part of that taste.

“Why are Auntie and the lizard going to the Magic Tower? Kindergarten?”

Nivellia swung her chubby legs as she asked.

Armiphera pointed at the Evil Dragon, who was comfortably resting on her lap.

“To introduce him to the Tower Master.”

In truth, they were heading there to examine the curse that bound the Tower Master.

“The Tower Master, about the Evil Dragon…”

Areph trailed off.

Because he had realized that the dragon wasn’t as evil as he had once thought.

Still, it was also true that Magia had shuddered whenever she thought of the Evil Dragon.

“I know he hates me.”

The dragon himself didn’t think much of it.

“But I should at least go and speak to him. If you keep bumping into a wall, eventually it’ll break.”

“If the wall breaks, you’ll get hurt.”

Getting hurt means pain.

Nivellia pointed this out.

“…Even so, you have to try.”

If you avoid it just because it hurts, the wall will block you forever.

After saying that, the Evil Dragon closed his eyes.

But beneath his cape, his front paws trembled.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Nivellia patted the dragon’s head.

Areph too reached out and gently stroked the dragon’s back.

When Armiphera arrived at the Magic Tower—

“My sparkling water! You pretty, unfilial brat!”

Tower Master Magia came all the way down to the first floor to greet her warmly.

He adored her deeply, partly because she drove Ardorres, the landlord, crazy.

“Grandfather, look who I brought.”

But the moment Magia saw the kitten inside the cage she carried—

“……”

His face twisted as though he had bitten into something foul.

Nivellia and Areph saw only that much before heading to the kindergarten.

“Do you think they’ll reconcile?”

Nivellia asked, swinging her hand clasped with Areph’s.

“I hope so.”

“Right?”

Since she liked Magia a little more, Nivellia thought it didn’t matter if things went however he wanted.

If reconciliation didn’t work, she could just go home and comfort the dragon.

“See you later, Areph!”

“See you later, young lady.”

The two parted ways at the kindergarten gate.

Areph had recently started attending classes at the “Academy.”

The Tower didn’t just have a kindergarten; it also had an academy for older children.

Areph was too old for kindergarten. After quickly learning the basics, he had transferred to the academy.

“Good morning, teacher!”

Nivellia cheerfully greeted as she entered kindergarten alone.

“Hello, Nini? Oh my, your hair looks so pretty today.”

“Deter tied it up for me!”

Nivellia learned many things at kindergarten.

On the worksheets given by the teacher, she practiced drawing straight lines with crayons, or looping continuous spirals like snail shells.

Today, she decorated a large flower picture with insect stickers to complete the project, ‘What insects can we see in summer?’

“Phew.”

I did it again today.

Nivellia slowly nodded as she admired the artwork completed with her friends.

“Hey.”

At that moment, a boy with short brown hair approached.

Nivellia stared blankly at him.

The boy flinched when their eyes met, quickly averting his gaze.

Then suddenly, as though irritated, he glared back at her.

His eyes were full of inexplicable annoyance and spite.

“You, are you close with the Tower Master?”

Nivellia considered whether to jab his eyes with her finger before answering.

“Yeah.”

In the old days, she would have already punched him.

I mustn’t hit recklessly.

Now a more educated child, Nivellia acted wisely.

She had seen innocent people forced to apologize because of her actions. She knew now that she shouldn’t just do as she pleased.

“But why?”

“Liar! Why would the Tower Master be close with someone like you?”

Distrust was written all over the boy’s face.

“My grandma and grandpa are his friends.”

Nivellia and Areph hid the fact that they were from Dei Amor when attending kindergarten.

However, they didn’t hide that they weren’t children of magicians.

Because even children of magicians often couldn’t use magic.

Being a magician wasn’t about bloodline but talent.

Still, magician-born children had a slightly higher chance of awakening that talent.

Indeed, some children at kindergarten and the academy already showed magical ability.

The boy now picking a fight with Nivellia was one of them.

He was a magician.

“And the Tower Master is…”

The Tower Master is Nini’s subordinate!

That’s what she wanted to say, but instead—

“…Anyway, he’s my grandparents’ friend.”

Nivellia wasn’t oblivious.

The Tower Master was the leader of the Tower. It wouldn’t do to undermine his dignity.

So she kept the truth hidden for the sake of her “subordinate” Magia.

Protecting subordinates was only natural for a leader.

“But why?”

This time, it was her turn.

“Why are you asking?”

“…Because it’s weird.”

“What is?”

“You’re not even a magician, yet you’re here.”

At those words, even the non-magician children looked at the boy.

Sensing their stares, he quickly changed his words.

“A-at least our parents are magicians, but yours aren’t.”

“Yeah, they’re not.”

“Then why are you here?”

“……”

Nivellia couldn’t answer.

Not because she was scared or upset, but because she couldn’t understand why this arrogant brat was suddenly picking a fight.

“Alec, what’s wrong with you?”

The other children noticed something off too.

They stepped protectively in front of Nivellia.

By chance, she was the youngest in kindergarten, so everyone treated her like a little sister.

“Why are you being mean to Nini?”

“Yeah. She didn’t do anything.”

“You’re older, you’re supposed to be a big brother, don’t bully your younger sibling.”

Faced with the united resistance of her friends, the boy—Alec—was flustered.

He hadn’t expected this at all.

But soon he tried to assert dominance with a loud voice.

“S-still, she’s arrogant! Living with us even though she’s not a magician! So shameless!”

The yelling made Nivellia’s ears ache.

So she simply punched him.

“Shut up!”

Her tiny fist landed squarely on Alec’s philtrum.

Her skills from the past—when her cat punches had struck heroes’ hearts—were still alive and well.

While Nivellia was caught in unnecessary quarrels—

“So you’re saying…”

Magia glared as though he would tear apart the descendant of the Evil Dragon who had cursed him 180 years ago.

Meanwhile, Evil Dragon Ater buried his face in Armiphera’s arms.

“You’re saying… my curse might not actually be a curse?”

“I-it probably is a curse….”

The not-even-six-month-old baby dragon stammered in a trembling baritone, almost crawling on the floor.

“But… it might not really be the Evil Dragon’s curse. After discussing it with the Saintess, we think that’s possible.”

“Since that’s what he says, calm down for now.”

Armiphera soothed Magia.

Glancing at his granddaughter-like Armiphera’s face, Magia finally reined in his killing intent.

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

“I’ve embarrassed myself in front of you.”

“It’s fine. It’s an important matter, after all.”

Smiling in understanding, Armiphera gently petted the dragon’s head.

Encouraged, Evil Dragon Ater cautiously lifted his face.

“F-first, let’s look at the mark the curse left.”

Any spell or curse always left behind a sigil, the formula of its casting.

“Sigh…”

With that, Magia stood and removed his upper garment.