Chapter 6
Inside the warm room where the two of them were idly spending time despite understanding almost nothing each other said, a soft knock sounded at the door.
Knock, knock.
Then Hui’s voice followed.
“Instructor, are you there? It’s Hui. I’ve brought Yeon with me.”
“Peep?”
(Yeon?)
Aran’s eyes widened at the name she’d only heard about in rumors—the real youngest child of the Azure Dragon Clan.
From what I’ve seen, these dragon brats have been hopelessly reckless since they were little…
If he suddenly charges at me, will I even be able to dodge?
Well, if it comes to that, I can always ascend and leave. Still… I’m curious about the little guy.
Watching the door expectantly, she saw Hui enter carrying a baby dragon, gently setting him down in front of her.
“Hello, Aran.”
After Hui greeted her, the baby dragon spoke too.
“Kyuu…”
(Hello…)
Aran stared in fascination at the dragon who was only slightly bigger than she was.
Among beastfolk, dragons had an especially short infancy.
Once they passed that stage and gained human forms, they almost never transformed back into dragons.
Which meant that in the last hundred years, Aran had never once seen a dragon this young.
The baby dragon before her was only about the size of a grown man’s two outstretched hands.
His scales were a beautiful sky blue.
His eyes were a soft brown like Cheongun’s.
Though still small, his featherless wings looked sturdy, and every time he opened his mouth, countless tiny teeth peeked out.
“Peep.”
(Hello. So you can talk.)
Hui smiled gently.
“That’s right, Aran. Yeon’s learned to speak a little, so I brought him over. Min’s still too busy running around to learn any words.”
The little dragon let out a quiet cry.
“Kyuu… mm.”
(Yeonie… can’t run…)
Was he embarrassed about that?
His stubby tail was curled tightly around his sky-blue bottom like a grapevine.
The spikes that would someday become fearsome were still soft and round, looking more like little water droplets.
What’s with this kid…?
He’s ridiculously adorable.
Aran’s heart pounded.
For the first time, she understood why So-rim kept getting nosebleeds around cute things.
“Peep.”
(You’re cute, so it doesn’t matter.)
Yeon tilted his head as though he hadn’t quite understood.
His little droplet-shaped tail tilted the same way.
This is unbelievable…
I spent a hundred years without realizing baby dragons were this adorable… What a wasted life…
Aran placed one wing over her chest and took a deep breath.
She feared her frail little body might actually suffer a heart attack.
Just then, Yeon’s eyes grew round.
“Kurung…”
(Then… Aran is the cutest…)
“Peep?”
(Why?)
“Kyuu…?”
(Because… Aran’s the cutest…?)
T-that’s impossible.
I’ve gotten a little cuter, sure… but not cuter than you…
Their painfully slow conversation had only just reached that point when Hui suddenly threw his arms around both of them.
“Just kill me now, you two…”
Now what’s wrong with you?
His face was bright red, and he was breathing heavily.
Something was clearly wrong.
“Pii…”
(Sigh…)
Aran let out a weary sigh.
There were finally two dragons she could communicate with…
Yet communication still wasn’t going smoothly.
Looking to the side, she found So-rim standing against the wall…
With yet another nosebleed.
Again?
Honestly, she’s the weakest one here.
A few days later.
Aran was panting in the early summer garden after leaving her cozy room.
“Huff… huff…”
Vermilion Birds were birds.
Walking wasn’t easy.
Their legs were thin, their necks were long, and keeping their balance was difficult.
You’re a dragon yourself! Do you know that or not?!
The drill instructor—who was somehow also serving as their nanny—shouted again.
“One, two!”
Wobble…
Flapping her tiny wings frantically just to stay upright, Aran managed another shaky step.
Then—
“Peep, peep.”
(I’m dying over here…)
She immediately collapsed onto her bottom.
To Aran’s surprise…
She wasn’t suffering alone.
“Two, two!”
At So-rim’s next command, a baby dragon with oversized wings flapped desperately after her.
“Grr…ruk…”
(Save… Yeonie…)
Wait.
I thought dragons didn’t need nannies?
Yeon looked utterly exhausted.
The healthy blue color had almost disappeared from his face, making him resemble a White Dragon instead.
But there was no rest.
Soon it was Aran’s turn again.
“Three, two!”
Unable to take it anymore, Aran shouted,
“PEEP!”
(Hey! This isn’t how a nanny acts! You’ve got this all wrong!)
But since So-rim couldn’t understand bird language, she simply barked another order at the struggling dragon.
“Four, two!”
Naturally.
Like everyone else in the palace, she couldn’t understand sign language.
“Haa… haa…”
Yeon stuck out his tiny blue tongue and staggered forward another step.
His droplet-shaped tail swayed limply from side to side.
“Kurung…”
(I miss… big brother…)
Exactly.
What the two of them desperately needed right now…
Was Hui.
Unfortunately, the only dragon who understood them was both incredibly capable and the eldest son.
Which meant he was always busy.
“Kyuu…”
(Big brother… Yeonie’s tired…)
Poor thing.
Even while struggling herself, Aran couldn’t help pitying him.
She often forgot that she’d also become a child again.
To her, the fourth young dragon simply looked adorable.
Besides…
Unlike Cheonghui, whose name had become famous in Aran’s previous life…
Cheong Yeon’s name meant nothing to her.
Cheong Yeon…
He seems like an ordinary, unremarkable kid.
Then as the great Vermilion Bird, shouldn’t I look after this weak little dragon?
It’s not like I have anything better to do.
And so…
The two babies continued practicing their first steps day after day under the absurdly strict “nanny.”
“All right! Focus!”
That’s NOT what a nanny does!
“Young Miss! Young Master! Keep going! At this pace, when will you ever learn to run?”
Former Drill Instructor So-rim appeared to have fallen into a very serious misunderstanding.
“Whoever reaches that side gate first gets to skip afternoon training!”
What?!
Training?!
Did you just misspeak?!
Aran’s black eyes and Yeon’s brown eyes widened at exactly the same time.
But while Aran froze in shock…
Yeon made the first move.
Hop! Hop! Hop!
What…?
He still had energy left?
So even if he isn’t famous, a dragon is still a dragon?
“Peep!”
(Darn it!)
Aran reluctantly pushed herself forward with all the strength in her tiny toes.
Step! Step!
This ridiculous training is awful…
But doing it alone would be even worse!
Standing at the finish line near the side gate, So-rim watched the two babies with satisfaction.
“See that? There are no limits for babies! The only time the word ‘limit’ should be used is when counting dragon eggs!”
“Peep…!”
(You lunatic! We were born a month ago!)
Yeon had become so determined that he kept his mouth tightly shut, refusing even to complain.
After their fierce… if very slow… race—
Thump!
The one who crossed the finish line first by practically falling over was—
“Woohoo! Young Master Yeon wins! Just as expected of the pride of the Azure Dragon Clan!”
“PEEP!!”
(I hate you! I don’t like you anymore!)
Aran reached the gate one step later and angrily chirped at So-rim.
Yeon simply sat down where he was, panting too hard to speak.
Just then…
A long shadow fell over the gate.
“Hm? Instructor… am I imagining things, or do the children look rather exhausted?”
Seeing Cheongun for the first time in a while, Aran’s eyes lit up.
She shouted with every ounce of strength she had left.
“PEEP! PEEP!”
(Greetings, Clan Head! This woman’s lost her mind! This isn’t what a nanny does! Please hire a real nanny!)
Cheongun smiled brighter than ever and scooped her into his arms.
“Oh my, our youngest. Are you happy to see Mommy?”
Aran didn’t have the energy to argue with his usual claim anymore.
“Peep…”
(Mom! I’m exhausted…!)
As Aran desperately cried out, Yeon, sprawled beside the gate, slowly tilted his head.
“Kyuu…”
(Daddy… Yeonie’s tired too…)
But before either of them could make their case…
Ever-positive So-rim cheerfully interrupted.
“Oh, they’re not tired at all! Just look how energetic they are!”
Aran finally gave up.
She slowly shook her head.
“Peep.”
(Mom… she doesn’t have eyes. Those are just holes in her face.)
The hundred-year-old baby bird had become exceptionally quick at accepting defeat.
