<Chapter 9>

The dragon scowled and spat out the seed. Just as he was about to stomp on it, he hesitated for a moment, then turned away with a huff.

I picked up the seed he had thrown away.

“When the tree grows, let’s name it together.”

“……”

“Yeah!”

The dragon pressed his lips into a firm line, while Ardishu responded cheerfully.

The second contest was a rock-throwing competition.

“Let’s see who can throw the rock the farthest!”

We lined up by the river and tossed our stones.

The dragon, with his overwhelming strength, threw his the farthest. Ardishu’s rock plopped down right at her feet.

And mine…

Plip, plip, plip.

It skipped three whole times across the water.

“What the—? How did you do that?”

Yes! He’s interested!

“You just have to find a flat stone and throw it low across the surface. Want to try?”

I tried to hide my excitement as I explained.

Ardishu quickly got the hang of it. The ripples that spread out every time her stone touched the water were so pretty.

“Ugh…”

But The dragon kept failing.

“This is so annoying. I hate it.”

“Come on, just one more try. I’ll help you.”

“Shut up! You told me something different on purpose, didn’t you? You’re mocking me, huh?”

Oh no. He must be really frustrated from all the failed attempts.

“Th-that’s not it. I just followed Teacher’s instructions and got it right…”

“Hey! Are you saying a dragon like me is worse than a human or an elf?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Stop. That’s enough.”

I stepped in between them.

“Take a deep breath. It’s okay to be upset, but that doesn’t mean you can lash out at your friend.”

“Tch…”

“This one’s just hard. I practiced a lot before I could do it too.”

I picked up a flat, smooth stone.

“Here, take this one. Give it another shot.”

“I don’t need it!”

He threw the stone I offered down onto the ground.

“Be honest. You hate me, don’t you? You probably think I’m some annoying brat!”

“That’s not true.”

I answered firmly.

“I don’t hate you. If anything, I feel sorry.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry. When we first met, I acted all high and mighty. I didn’t even ask how you felt about any of this. Your opinion should’ve come first.”

Maybe that hurt him more than I realized.

That was my fault. I should’ve taken the time to get to know him instead of jumping to conclusions just because he was prickly. Instead, I tried to take control by dragging his guardian into it.

“I’m actually new to being a teacher too, so… I’m still learning. I’m sorry.”

“Uh…”

Maybe he didn’t expect me to apologize. Or maybe I hit a nerve, because his golden eyes trembled slightly.

Now was my chance.

I crouched down to meet his gaze.

“Just now, I sent a telepathic message: ‘Teacher likes our dragon friend.’ Did you get it?”

His eyes flickered with something complicated. I smiled even brighter, hoping my sincerity would reach him.

“Shut up!”

With a sharp shout, the child shifted into his dragon form. A gust of wind burst out.

“!”

Swept up in it, I was thrown to the ground without mercy.

“Ouch…”

“Teacher!”

Blood trickled down from my leg where I’d slammed into a rock.

“Gasp… Your leg— Teacher, you’re bleeding!”

“Ardishu, are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine, but…”

“Good…”

I winced as pain throbbed in my leg.

“……”

The dragon hovered in the air, watching. His golden eyes showed a flicker of hesitation, but in the end, he flew away.

“Teacher…”

“I’m okay. This is nothing.”

“Let me help you walk.”

After some basic first aid, I limped back to the daycare with Ardishu at my side.

* * *

Once again, Paul arrived at a completely empty classroom.

Of course. He was early.

“Tch. This is so annoying.”

Frustration bubbled up as Paul ran his hands through his hair. He had only turned back into his dragon form, so why had he flown away like that, so weakly?

‘She didn’t die… right?’

It was a natural worry. If a human died, he’d get in serious trouble.

‘I didn’t mean to hurt her.’

He really didn’t.

Looking back, this was all the Dragon Lord’s fault.

[“A human summoned from another world will be teaching you. It should be good for you, since you’re still young.”]

Paul had been stunned by the announcement. He wasn’t some fledgling who needed to be taught anything.

He was a full-fledged dragon with a lair of his own.

And the one who was supposed to teach him? A human?

Even the other dragons objected.

[“Lord, you’re treating him like a child.”]

[“There’s no such thing as a “child” among superior beings like us. You know that!”]

Exactly. Dragons were different. They could use magic within a week of hatching.

They didn’t need parents hovering over them like other species.

Paul had believed in that completely. He understood why the other dragons placed their expectations on him.

‘But then… what is this feeling that keeps piling up inside me?’

He had started snapping at others more often. He regretted it afterward, but he never apologized.

‘Dragons are higher beings. We don’t need to say sorry.’

And so, Paul became the kind of dragon who did whatever he wanted.

All dragons grew up like that. That’s just how they lived. Paul thought he would too.

No doubt about it…

[“Psychic power? What’s that?”]

[“Se-cret.”]

[You’d be dead if I stepped on you, you know!]

[“But if I died, you’d never learn the secret, would you?”]

He was irritated by the human who dared talk back to him.

A mere human who didn’t know to fear a dragon.

And yet… he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

[“Come on, just one more try. I’ll help you.”]

Even when he kept messing up, the human didn’t scold him.

If it had been any other dragon, they would’ve sighed and turned away.

‘And then there was the apple thing.’

Paul hated apples.

Back during a grand feast with dragons and elves, they gave him an apple instead of wine, saying his body wasn’t mature enough.

[“Didn’t you say dragons aren’t kids?! Make up your mind!”]

He had snapped, and they just sighed.

[“Still young. Definitely no alcohol.”]

[“Go play with the elf children, Paul.”]

Infuriated, Paul trashed the banquet hall and flew back to his lair.

Several elf children were hurt that day. He’d felt guilty at first, but the feeling faded fast.

He had scorched the complainers with dragon breath, and after that, everyone kept their distance.

That’s when he learned that if he used force, no one would ignore him.

Yeah. Just crush them. Problem solved.

He kept spiraling, and no one stopped him. No other race dared intervene.

Not even other dragons. Fighting among dragons was dangerous. It was easier to look away.

From then on, he never touched apples. And of all places, the daycare served apples as dessert.

[“Do you not like apples?”]

[“I already lowered myself to eat human food. Now you want more…?”]

[“Well, if you don’t want to eat it, don’t. Just eat as much as you feel like.”]

That caught him off guard.

He thought she would try to force him since she was a teacher, after all, but she simply respected his preferences.

Then came the real kicker.

[“I’m sorry. When we first met, I acted all high and mighty. I didn’t even ask how you felt about any of this. Your opinion should’ve come first.”]

She didn’t fear him because he was a dragon. She didn’t dismiss him for being a child.

She saw Paul for who he really was.

No one had ever done that before.

And he… hurt her.

This time, she might really be afraid. She might never come back.

“……”

Sitting alone in the empty classroom, Paul thought about what she had said yesterday.

[“Just now, I sent a telepathic message: ‘Teacher likes our dragon friend.’ Did you get it?”]

He didn’t know why, but it had made his heart flutter. It was warm. Kind of ticklish.

“Telepathy, huh…”

Maybe she really did have some kind of special power.

A power that touched the heart.

“Good morning! Huh? Teacher’s not here…”

Ardishu had arrived, but the human still hadn’t shown up.

‘What the heck? Acting all impressive and now this?’

He didn’t like this at all.

She said she’d water the seeds even if they didn’t sprout. She smiled even when he acted like a threat…

“Kids, I’ll bring snacks today. Go ahead and play for a bit.”

Another human came in with pudding, then scurried away like she was fleeing.

“This is good, right?”

“……”

Ardishu tried to strike up a conversation, but Paul ignored her. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk.

‘I’m going back to my lair.’

He sighed and threw open the window—

“Sorry I’m late.”

The classroom door burst open.

Leaning on clumsy crutches, the human walked in. Weak, silly, and hopelessly fragile.

But strangely, Paul felt relieved.

And yet, what came out of his mouth was a grumble.

“Why’d you come?”

“Why else? I came to see you guys.”

She blinked like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“You’ve probably given up on me by now.”

“Never. A teacher never gives up on a student.”

She said it with unwavering certainty as she made her way to the table.

“Here. This is a reward for Ardishu, who won the ‘tree climbing’ contest.”

“Wow!”

She handed Ardishu a piece of paper. Paul peeked at it curiously. It was a drawing of Ardishu perched proudly at the top of the tree.

“And this is for our dragon friend, who won the ‘rock throwing’ contest.”

“……”

The paper showed Paul hurling a stone with all his might.

Long streaks followed behind the stone, emphasizing his strength.

As he took the drawing, Paul felt a strange ache in his chest. It was the same sensation he’d felt yesterday.

“Did you just send a telepathic message?”

“So it worked this time.”

She beamed with joy, smiling brightly despite the pain in her legs, as if it didn’t bother her at all.

“I lost.”

Paul muttered, glancing at her.
 

<To be continued>

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