novelraw Chapter 18: Talk of Adulthood
Chapter 18: Talk of Adulthood
When Fischer returned to the carriage to find Mir, Larr was already chattering non-stop at the newly arrived little dragon, Chur.
"Can kids from the Northern Branch Tribe eat honey at night? Like, more than a finger’s worth? My mom never let me eat honey at night—she said it’d rot my teeth. But how could a dragon’s teeth rot, right?"
“...”
The little dragon looked intimidated and had no idea how to handle Larr’s boundless energy. Without replying, he shrank into the corner of the room, clearly wishing this annoying dragonkin would go away.
“Lord Fischer… is there something you need?”
Mir, who had been kneeling to prepare bedding for the new little dragon, turned toward the doorway when she saw Fischer walk in. She stood and asked politely.
Other than Larr, Mir probably had the best impression of Fischer among the dragonkin. Fassil and Cachil, like Raphaëlle, still harbored some wariness toward him. Whenever Fischer showed up, they stayed silent, as if split into two extremes compared to Larr.
“Raphaëlle’s body is showing signs I don’t fully understand. Come take a look with me.”
“I want to go too! Raphaëlle will definitely feel better when she sees me!”
Larr raised her blue-scaled hand excitedly, ready to follow Fischer. But before she got far, Cachil scooped her up.
“Don’t go causing trouble, Larr. Why don’t you keep asking about the honey stuff instead…”
“But he’s not even talking! It’s so boring!”
As the carriage returned to its usual noisy chaos, Mir gave a helpless smile and followed Fischer outside.
Once they were far enough, she hesitated before quietly speaking.
“I’m sorry, Lord Fischer. Larr’s just been cooped up in that cage too long. If she bothers you, I’ll tell her to quiet down.”
Among the dragonkin, Mir was the eldest and the most mature. Compared to the others who were less worldly, she was more thoughtful and considerate.
“It’s fine. She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Fischer didn’t slow his pace. He genuinely wasn’t bothered by Larr’s chatter—he’d tutored kids ten times as mischievous back in college. That phase had helped hone his patience.
And patience was a good trait.
Mir followed behind, watching Fischer’s back. As she’d suspected, this human was different.
She smiled softly and entered the hotel room with him.
The moment they stepped inside, the steam in the air was so thick that she had to squint to see. Once her eyes adjusted, she finally spotted Raphaëlle lying weakly on the bed.
“Lady Raphaëlle!”
Mir rushed forward and reached out to feel her skin. But the moment her fingers brushed those burning-hot scales on Raphaëlle’s arm, she flinched back.
“Mir...”
Raphaëlle’s voice was feeble. It made Fischer wonder if she was falling ill—despite her earlier insistence that "Dragonkin don’t get sick like humans."
Instant karma, perhaps.
“Is she sick? She’s been off for a while now.”
Mir, however, sighed and shook her head.
“No. Lady Raphaëlle is about to come of age. These are signs of her imminent maturation. I went through it too—it’s not serious. It usually passes in ten days or so. Once she’s an adult, her strength will grow substantially. It’s just a shame we can’t hold her Tailmate Ceremony back in the tribe...”
“Tailmate Ceremony?”
“Ah... because the odds of finding a mate are highest right after reaching adulthood, the tribe holds a bonding banquet for all newly matured kin to help them find their Tailmate.”
As she spoke, Mir lifted her yellow bangs to reveal a tiny horn on her forehead.
“This is the symbol of adulthood among Dragonkin. It’s also our source of power. The greater one’s mana, the stronger the horn. Mine’s small because… well, I’m a bit of a coward.”
Fischer studied the horn on her forehead—he hadn’t noticed such a feature before. His eyes sharpened with interest as he asked seriously,
“May I touch your horn?”
“Wh-what?”
Mir’s face instantly flushed pink, her thoughts racing.
In Dragonkin culture, only intimate friends or mates were allowed to touch each other’s horns. Apparently, Fischer had no idea of that unspoken rule.
And it’s not like... he meant it that way, right?
Mir’s yellow tail gave a little shake as she glanced at Fischer’s serious expression. After hesitating, she nodded softly.
“You can… but if you’re not using another horn, you probably won’t be able to touch it…”
“Hm?”
Fischer reached out a finger toward the faintly glowing horn. But when he touched it, his finger passed right through it—like it wasn’t even there.
Curious, he picked up his cane, which began to glow. The moment the cane's tip touched her horn, it made contact.
Mir instantly went beet red and recoiled, sitting down hard on the floor.
“W-wait… how come… you can touch it?”
Could it be… that cane was made from a Dragonkin’s horn?
“Just as I thought… Dragonkin horns are the physical manifestation of their magic circuits. As the circuits grow during adulthood and run out of room inside the body, they manifest externally as horns.”
Fischer looked like he’d just uncovered a major scientific breakthrough. He retracted his cane, and his Demi-Human Girl Completion Handbook gave off a faint warmth—alerting him that his research on Dragonkin had progressed.
Seeing Fischer’s completely professional expression, Mir’s blush faded slightly.
Of course. Lord Fischer wasn’t that kind of person. And anyway, why would a human be interested in... Dragonkin like that?
Even if Lord Fischer is quite a catch—by both human and Dragonkin standards...
And besides, she already had a Tailmate...
Just as Mir sighed in relief and stepped aside to check on Raphaëlle, she pulled back the blanket slightly—only to find Raphaëlle completely unclothed underneath.
“Eh...”
Her brain momentarily short-circuited. Then her entire face turned crimson as she hurried to drop the blanket again.
Ehhh?!
What the...
What were Lord Fischer and Lady Raphaëlle doing in here earlier?!
Wait, wait...
Could it be... Lord Fischer has an interest in Dragonkin?!
Mir turned toward Fischer with a growing suspicion in her eyes.
No wonder he bought us… Never heard of a human with that sort of preference before. But Larr and Fassil are still just kids... and I already—
She pursed her lips, her body beginning to emit steam just like Raphaëlle—though hers was thinner and cooler.
What do I do…? Should I tell Lord Fischer that Dragonkin can’t do that kind of thing until we’re fully matured?
But then, that would mean I’m the only adult... wouldn’t that make me the only one he could—
But I already have a Tailmate!
But if it’s for the sake of Larr and the others…
Fischer nodded quietly. Now that he was sure Raphaëlle wasn’t ill, he could rest easier. Given her physical state, research would have to wait. In the meantime, it was worth examining Mir—the only adult Dragonkin present.
He absentmindedly said,
“Mir, could you... hm?”
He looked up—and saw the yellow Dragonkin emitting steam, cheeks flushed, and eyes quivering like she might cry.
“N-no… not that kind of thing… Lord Fischer, I-I already…”
As Fischer raised his hand, Mir stumbled backward and sat down again, murmuring objections that sounded more like pleas.
As she had said earlier, she was the most timid of her sisters. But even so, she couldn’t stop herself from saying,
“S-sorry… they’re not of age yet… so they can’t do anything like that… but… but I already have a Tailmate, so… I’m sorry, Lord Fischer…”
“.....”
Fischer’s face froze. The room fell into a heavy silence—filled only by the soft hiss of Dragonkin-scented steam.
Outside the door, two maids passed by, whispering as they held their mouths.
“Did you hear? That gentleman went in with two young ladies… hasn’t come out since. Now the room’s even steaming.”
“My, my... young gentlemen these days…”
“Hahaha.”