Dragonlord Ep 184. Atta Boy. (1)

Ep 184. Atta Boy. (1)

Ep 184. Atta Boy. (1)

The next few days passed in a blur.

It wasn’t that Serenis was particularly busy; in fact, they were so of the most leisure days she’d ever spent in her second life. She’d hardly done anything besides socializing with her own kin, learning their nas and the developnts that had transpired since the past era (or lack thereof).

But frankly, as much as she would’ve liked to, she couldn’t linger forever – at least not yet.

There were divinities that had yet to be addressed. Light and Karas had to return ho in Partivine, and truth be told, so did Serenis. They couldn’t just sit around waiting a full year or two for Raizel to recover.

But before they could make their trip back ho, there was one other matter that needed tending to in Dragon’s Valley.

It wasn’t exactly a concerning matter, but…

…

…This is how it began.

✧ ✧ ✧

Last night, at Ilias’ nest…

“Ilias, are you gonna co ho with us tomorrow?”

“…”

“…Ilias?”

Hearing no reply from the red dragon, Light curiously peeked from the living area to find Ilias’ upper body crouched down on the dinner table, glaring at what was in front of her.

And on the other side, Theolus was ON the dinner table, readying to pounce like a cat at what was in front of them.

And between the two dragons, was…

The last biscuit Eline had made this morning.

As Theolus pounced forward, Ilias imdiately hissed back as she likewise reached forward.

Her hand reached the biscuit first, but the hatchling’s open maw simply crunched down on Ilias’ fingers instead. It even seed like he was chewing on it.

In fact, he was definitely chewing on it.

“Ow, ow, ow! Okay, okay, you can have it, you can have it! Stop biting !”

“Mrrgh!”

“…”

Pretending not to have seen any of that, Light turned back around, slumping down beside Karas on the feathered cushion.

“…I can’t tell who’s babysitting who anymore.”

“I’m sure they’re just getting along. Eline can’t take him with her all the ti.”

“I guess…”

Ever since their arrival, Light and Karas had noticed two things.

One, dragons from picture books were nothing like dragons in real life.

While dragons in their books slaughtered armies and burnt down entire villages, the real ones seed perfectly content spending their days lounging around, socializing, collecting food, or babysitting. Bruton and Aether even seed thrilled to have guests, what with their usual days filled with…well, nothing.

And second – as ironic as this was – the busiest individual within Dragon’s Valley was a human herbalist.

As far as they could tell, Eline had at least several dozen dragons under her care. She always had soone to see to next, and what little free ti she had, she spent collecting herbs, making dicine, or taking care of Theolus. Despite staying in the sa place, Light and Karas hardly saw the herbalist at all.

“…I feel bad for doing nothing all day.”

“To be fair, that does seem to be the trend in these parts.”

“Yeah, but…Eline’s been keeping her busy treating the other dragons, and Serenis has been keeping busy talking to all those elders. Heck, even Ilias is babysitting Theo. We’re just…sitting around.”

“The alternative would be to walk right into Raizel’s room and lessen Ayia’s suffering. But I’d personally advise against it.”

“…”

Light pursed her lips upon hearing her professor’s suggestion. The last ti she did that, she’d sat there watching Raizel use the forr deity as a footrest for 30 minutes.

And had the half stayed any longer, it would’ve been her next.

“…On second thought, maybe I can help Aether make dinner or sothing later. Serenis did say we’ll be heading ho tomorrow anyways…”

“Mm. Good choice.”

While the two lounged around, the nest’s entrance soon creaked open to reveal Eline and Serenis returning together.

Though, instead of exchanging hellos or the like, the dragonlord instead looked to Light and Karas apologetically.

“Karas, Light. I’m…afraid we may have to delay our return to Partivine.”

Unlike her professor, Light imdiately jumped out of her seat at the news. Rushing over to the dragonlord’s side with a worried expression.

“Huh? Why? Did sothing happen?”

“Well…”

As Serenis looked to the herbalist beside her, Eline took the ti to explain to the half instead.

“You see…I’ve been running really low on supplies. I can make most dicine from the valley’s herbs, but I can’t make things like bandages or alcohol. I need to buy those from a market, and…well, there is no market here.”

“Can’t you just co with us tomorrow then?”

“Well, actually, that’s the problem. I…don’t have any coin.”

“What? But you work all day, how’s that even-“

Two seconds is all it took for Light to realize Eline wasn’t actually receiving paynt for her work here.

Or, more precisely, she couldn’t be paid. Not when no one here had any sense of what ‘currency’ was…or had any, for that matter.

But just then, Ilias ca along to join the conversation – with Theolus securely held in her arms, nibbling on the biscuit he’d won from the red dragon.

“Did I hear that right? Eline, if you needed coin, you could’ve just told ! I can give you so.”

“Yeah, about that too…”

As Ilias ntioned her own coin, Eline looked to the dragonlord beside her.

After clearing her throat, Serenis warily looked towards the red dragon.

“Ilias. The coin you have…they’re tributes we found during our first eting, yes?”

“…Oh. Was I…not supposed to use them?”

It was a little too late considering she’d already been using them left and right, but…

Thankfully, the dragonlord shook her head.

“No…it’s not that. After so deliberation, the elders and I have decided that we should empty Vulka’s grave of any tributes that remain within.”

Dragons had little use for coin, but that was no reason to keep items abandoned within soone’s remains – the second dragonlord’s at that. If only to grant Vulka a peaceful rest, it made sense that his remains be emptied of any foreign items lying within.

And besides, it was better to have and not need than to need and not have…as was the case with Eline right now.

After exchanging glances with Ilias, Serenis then looked over to Light and Karas to explain the situation to them.

“…Within Vulka’s grave lies treasures of human make: tributes given unto the dragonkin during the past era. But as the items are of human craft, I thought it’d be best to enlist all of your help in sorting what we find. The kin knows little of coin, and less about mankind’s treasures. To us, they’re all…glowing stones.”

Light’s eyes began to sparkle at the prospect of doing sothing useful. She’d spent the last few days idling by, so finally having sothing to do was a refreshing change – even if it did an a small delay in returning ho.

anwhile, Karas’ eyes began to sparkle at the prospect of…

‘Antiques from the past era, crafted by ancient mankind…to serve as tributes to dragons!’

As an academic specializing in magic and history, the professor knew exactly how rare such items were: nonexistent.

And he also knew the worth they’d have when exposed to human society.

“…”

After a brief pause, Karas gave a look of evident disappointnt towards Ilias.

“So that’s where all those gold coins you had ca from. And all this ti, you’ve been trading them for beer and donuts…I should’ve taken a closer look at what you were using.”

“Wh- what? Coin is coin!”

“Normally I’d agree. But, in this case…no it isn’t.”

Not these coins, anyhow.