Universal Good

,Your words make it sound like the Golden King, ruler of El Dorado, is actually a dragon.”

At Raellan’s question, I nodded.

,That’s right. The Golden King was originally set to be a Gold Dragon. It was scrapped, though.”

Everyone looked surprised at my explanation. Especially Eunice, who looked shocked that the ruler of the city she lived in was actually a dragon.

Raellan nodded, looking as if he finally understood.

,The Golden King never really stepped forward. He even had a mayor elected to run the city he ruled. He just supported the city’s development with a huge amount of money. Was the enormous wealth, the source of which no one could figure out, because the Golden King was a dragon?”

Eunice nodded slightly, as if agreeing with those words.

,No one could figure out the Golden King’s intentions because he didn’t do anything special… If he was just mired in laziness and ennui, as Ross-ssi says, it makes sense.”

,But this hatchling isn’t in any of the settings I scrapped. It seems to have been created for some reason of plausibility.”

At my words, everyone’s gaze turned to the hatchling, who was rubbing its face in Luna’s arms.

Raellan, who had been stroking his chin, asked.

,Then where did that egg come from?”

,I got it as a reward for the final trial in the trial room in the academy’s club room. Nelson-nim probably put the egg there.”

,Nelson, huh…”

Raellan, trailing off, exchanged glances with Eunice.

,It’s worth checking out.”

,Yes, the Sage wouldn’t have brought the egg without a reason.”

I, unable to keep up with their conversation, asked.

,Why Nelson-nim?”

,We need to know where the egg came from to figure out where the plausibility came from. And we need to find out why Nelson-nim gave you a dragon egg.”

Having said that, Raellan’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.

,From now on, you need to be careful of Nelson-nim too.”

,…?”

,You don’t understand, do you? Do you trust him because you believe he’s been good to you for no reason? But Nelson-nim isn’t someone who’s good to people for no reason. The academy’s foundation is a survival-of-the-fittest environment where weak students are forced to compete and fall behind. Nelson-nim created that atmosphere. It’s clear that the headmaster, the Sage, is taking care of you, an underachieving student, for some reason.”

When I made a sullen face at Raellan’s explanation, Eunice twisted her hair with her fingers and said.

,Ross-ssi, the Hope who reached the realm of the Sage, even predicted what would happen in our world and made a contract with the Saintess in advance. So, how far ahead is Sage Nelson-nim looking… we don’t know. That’s why you need to be careful.”

I understood why the two strategists were wary of Nelson-nim. Still, I couldn’t shake off the unease, having received so much from Nelson-nim. If it was all intentional… I think I’d be a little sad.

,Okay. I’ll be careful of Nelson-nim.”

As the story was roughly settled, the strategists returned to their seats. I turned around and approached the hatchling, who was receiving the love of the women. As I reached out my hand, wondering what to do with this guy, the hatchling was horrified and clung to Luna.

,…What?”

I naturally thought it would recognize me as its owner since it was my egg, but it even flapped its wings to avoid my hand. As I stared with dumbfounded eyes, Estelle said from beside me.

,So even a hatchling is still a dragon. To notice your sinister intentions… amazing.”

Ignoring Estelle with a sigh, I looked at Luna. Luna, too, seemed to like the hatchling that followed her well, and was diligently stroking its head. I could force it away, but I, who had so much to do, didn’t have time to raise a hatchling.

I pondered for a moment and then spoke.

,Luna, could you possibly take care of the hatchling for a little while?”

I felt sorry for passing on the burden, but Luna nodded right away with a happy smile.

,Yeah! Of course, I can. Haring-i also follows me well, so I’ll raise it well.”

She’s already given it the name Haring. But something feels strange. The hatchling subtly burying its face in Luna’s chest, and Luna hugging Haring-i tightly with a happy face as if I’m not even there… somehow….

,Do you feel like you’ve lost your lover’s priority?”

At Estelle’s sudden words, I frowned and said.

,…Don’t take over my monologue as you please. It’s not like that.”

,But it seems like I’m close? Are you jealous? Huh?”

I turned my head to the annoying Estelle, who was poking my side, and deliberately raised one corner of my mouth and said.

,Well, I should go see Amy after a long time. I bought a lot of delicious things, so I’ll have to seduce her with food.”

,What?! You’re banned from approaching Amy… Hey! Where are you going! Won’t you stop?!”

***

A village at the edge of the East.

There was a village where many young orphaned followers of the Order lived. It was impossible to maintain the village with just children, so there were naturally several guardians from the Order. Among those guardians was Parvati, called the Saintess of the Order.

In fact, Parvati was not a guardian. The Saintess had more important things to do than that. But Parvati liked children. Like the children in the village, Parvati had been just a young orphaned follower a few years ago. She felt a sense of kinship.

So Parvati often took the time to visit the village. Using her position as the Saintess, she brought snacks and food that the children liked, and generously bought and distributed items that she needed when she was an orphan.

The children of the village rushed to Parvati, who had taken the time to visit the village today as well. As Parvati smiled and greeted the children, Parvati’s escorts expertly distanced themselves and guarded the surroundings.

,Saintess-nim! Did you bring the present you promised last time?”

,Leaf! Were you waiting for the present, not wanting to see me?”

When Parvati pouted with a disappointed expression, the children around her glared at the child named Leaf.

,Hey! What kind of manners are those to your older sister!”

,You were always whining about when the Saintess-nim was coming, but was it for the present?”

,N-No, I never whined!”

Watching the bickering children, Parvati stopped pretending to cry and clapped her hands.

,Of course, I didn’t forget and prepared presents. We’ll all gather later and have a present opening ceremony. Everyone wash your hands clean and prepare for the party! I’m telling you in advance, I won’t give presents to anyone with dirt under their fingernails!”

At Parvati’s words, some of the children glanced at their fingernails and hurriedly ran to find soap. As Parvati burst into laughter at the sight of their retreating figures, one of the guardians who managed the children of the village approached.

,You’ve arrived, Saintess-nim.”

,It’s been a while, Nata. Have you been doing well?”

,Of course. Thanks to the things you brought last time, everyone’s gained a little weight, so I’m worried.”

Parvati smiled happily. Nata was like a mother to Parvati. She had also been an orphan under Nata’s care.

,I brought a lot this time too. Hehe.”

,Thank you always. But don’t overdo it too much. You’re always welcome to come to the village even without presents.”

Parvati felt embarrassed at Nata’s sincerity and grumbled for no reason.

,It’s not too much. Even though I look like this, I’m the Saintess of the Order! If you want, I can move you to the Holy Land with my power anytime!”

Nata answered with a benevolent smile.

,It’s okay. The children need me.”

Nata was not just her own mother, but the mother of many orphans. Parvati sighed regretfully and muttered.

,…I need Nata too.”

,You’ve been doing well so far.”

At Nata’s smile, which contained the belief that she would do well even without her, Parvati pouted for no reason and snuggled into her arms, whining. Nata gently smiled and stroked Parvati’s head, soothing her disappointment.

As time passed, the children who had washed their hands clean began to gather. Thanks to having experienced it several times, the other guardians were skillfully preparing for the party.

A time when everyone in the village could gather in one place and laugh and eat together. Parvati always held such a party when she visited the village.

Not only did she buy a large amount of ingredients in advance and send them to the village so that there would be enough food, but she also held a present opening ceremony with gifts purchased with her own money.

Since orphans didn’t have a day to celebrate their birthdays separately, Parvati held parties to give the children happy memories.

Everyone in the village sat down. Parvati, who had escaped from Nata’s arms, had already returned from a lovable child to the Saintess of the Order.

Dishes filled with food were placed on the table. The children, with empty dishes in front of them, sent Parvati glances urging her to start the party quickly.

At their urging, Parvati deliberately stalled with a playful face, climbing onto a rock where everyone could see her with a leisurely pace, causing the impatient children to shout.

,I’m hungry!”

,I want to eat quickly!”

,Saintess-nim is slow!”

Parvati smiled at the children’s grumbling and looked at everyone. And she opened her mouth to utter words to bless this moment.

,Now, today―”

Skeok.

A chilling sound reached Parvati’s ears. Parvati blinked at the trace of sword energy that had disappeared like a lie in front of her.

And noise came.

Thump.

Thuck.

Chuwak.

Tung.

,Ah?”

A severed head and blood filled the pure white empty dish on the table.

,…Aeu.”

Hundreds of children, Nata who was looking at Parvati with happy eyes, the children’s guardians, and even the escorts belonging to the Order’s executive positions who were protecting Parvati.

,Aeuuu…!!!”

Everyone’s heads and upper bodies were severed in one blow.

Only Parvati was alive in the village.

,Ahheut… Heuk heuk… No, no… No!!!!”

In Parvati’s eyes, denying the reality before her, she saw a figure walking towards her.

Step, step.

Roel, who stopped in front of Parvati, said with an emotionless face.

,I’m sorry.”

The greatsword moved, and Parvati’s vision plummeted to the ground.