Ch.288Hmm, I suppose we’ll have to face off to know for sure.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”

When I knocked on the door, a man with a calm face appeared.

Physically, he appeared to be a middle-aged man slightly younger than Rupert, wearing glasses, with a face that seemed to combine sharp intelligence and a warm impression.

“Mr. Kabla?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Selden Alphonse.”

Kabla politely gestured for me to come inside.

“Please come this way and make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you, excuse me then.”

Upon entering, I saw walls filled with ancient books and various research materials, while magical tools were arranged on the desk.

I turned my head around curiously as I sat down, and Kabla asked with a bright expression:

“Would you like some tea?”

“Something warm, please.”

Kabla hesitated for a moment, then looked at Clara who was outside the door and spoke.

“Would you like me to invite the person outside to join us?”

“My colleague outside doesn’t know anything about dragons yet, so I asked her to wait for a while.”

“Ah! I see! Then please wait a moment.”

Shortly after, Kabla placed a warm cup of tea on the table and settled into the chair opposite me.

“Rupert was so happy about finding a job… As his friend, I wanted to express my gratitude.”

“Principal Rupert’s sincerity toward the students was evident. I’m the one who’s happy to be working with him.”

Kabla took a sip of tea and slowly continued.

“…So you’re living with a dragon?”

“Somehow, it turned out that way. While hunting monsters, I happened to find a dragon egg in a cave, and there are many strange things about it.”

“Could you tell me in more detail?”

I placed my Raiden Sword, still in its scabbard, on the table and continued the conversation.

“There was a coffin-sized wooden box in a remote cave where people rarely visit. When I opened it, I found my current sword and a dragon egg.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“Judging by the condition of the box, it clearly hadn’t been touched by human hands for a very long time, but why didn’t the dragon egg hatch during all that time? And then, after I took it, it hatched as if it had been waiting.”

Kabla smiled faintly and answered promptly.

“Dragon eggs don’t have a specific hatching time.”

“…Pardon?”

“The hatching period is determined by how much sunlight they receive and how open the space around them is. In other words, if the dragon egg was in a wooden box with no sunlight, the hatching would have been suspended.”

“Doesn’t it rot if too much time passes?”

“I don’t know how long it was there, but I’ve never heard of a dragon egg rotting and failing to hatch.”

Finally, the mystery of the hatching was solved.

I adjusted my posture to ask more questions in earnest.

“So even if it hatches late, there’s no concern about problems for the dragon?”

“No, there isn’t. After hatching, the environment in which a dragon lives is the most important factor for its growth.”

“…I see. By the way, do you still interact with dragons, Mr. Kabla?”

“I meet with them occasionally. That friend is also interested in humans, so we exchange information. However…”

Kabla’s voice trailed off as he showed a sharp gaze.

“When did it hatch, if I may ask?”

“About two years ago, I believe.”

“Then the time has come…”

I blinked at Kabla’s words.

“What do you mean by ‘the time has come’?”

“In human terms, it takes about two and a half to three years for a dragon to grow from hatching to adulthood.”

“Ah, I roughly know that from what Principal Rupert told me.”

“The issue is that dragons enter a mating season just before becoming adults.”

“M-mating season?”

As I stammered with a bewildered expression, Kabla continued without concern.

“Fortunately, there’s a solution. The dragon friend I interact with has many connections with other dragons.”

“…Excuse me?”

I narrowed my brow slightly, and Kabla maintained a calm expression.

“Before the mating season arrives, we need to pair your dragon with another dragon. That way, they can overcome the mating season.”

“What happens if they don’t satisfy their urges during mating season?”

“The dragon currently living with you, Selden Alphonse, is maintaining a human form, correct?”

“Yes.”

“If they can’t satisfy their urges, they’ll revert to dragon form, and the area will likely be reduced to ruins.”

No way…

At this rate, I’ll have to marry off my daughter before I get married myself.

Of course, I was mentally prepared to see Lucien married someday, but I didn’t want to send her off in such a hurry.

Sighing deeply, I spoke.

“Do all dragon parents approve of their children being forcibly paired just because of mating season?”

“That’s how dragon history has always been. However, there are parents like you, Selden Alphonse, who believe it’s too early for their children to form a pair.”

“So, there is a way?”

“…But it’s impossible for you, Selden Alphonse. The only option is for me to ask my dragon friend to introduce a good match.”

“Even though we don’t share blood, I feel exactly like a parent to another dragon. Why is it impossible for me?”

Kabla continued with a slightly troubled expression.

“Can you subdue a dragon, Selden Alphonse?”

“…Pardon?”

“When the mating season comes, the dragon will go berserk. I’m asking if you can control your child like other dragon parents.”

I hadn’t fought her directly, but when I checked with my “Eye,” I was stronger than Lucien.

However, that was when she was in human form. If she transformed into a dragon and we fought properly, even I couldn’t guarantee the outcome.

I nodded seriously while thoughtfully stroking my chin.

“Hmm, I’d have to fight her to know for sure.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I think I could win against her human form, but I’m not sure if I could control her dragon form. I should try fighting her once.”

Hearing my words, Kabla stared at me blankly before covering his mouth and chuckling.

“You had me fooled for a moment, Selden Alphonse. You speak jokes as if they were serious.”

“Jokes?”

“It’s impossible for a human to defeat a dragon.”

Even Kabla, who researches dragons, couldn’t understand that I was the only “bug” in this world.

I felt that even if I explained, he wouldn’t believe me.

“By the way, how long does the mating season last?”

“About an hour, as I understand it.”

“…Really? An hour is shorter than I expected.”

“What’s frightening is that in just an hour, they can reduce an entire area to ruins.”

“That’s not what I meant. I think I could hold out for about an hour if I needed to subdue her.”

Kabla hesitated before bursting into laughter.

“You really are amusing, Selden Alphonse.”

Despite Kabla’s laughter, I maintained a serious expression and raised my head.

“By the way, Principal Rupert mentioned that dragons can marry humans. Is that true?”

“Didn’t you say you feel like a parent?”

“No, I was just thinking that even if it’s not me, there might not be a need to pair her with another dragon.”

This time, Kabla fell into deep thought before carefully speaking.

“…I don’t know if Rupert told you, but my dragon friend married a human.”

“So it is possible.”

“However, it wasn’t a happy ending. Dragons live five to ten times longer than humans on average.”

“If there hadn’t been a dragon war, there would be many more dragons alive, I suppose.”

“Not necessarily. Female dragons can only lay eggs twice in their lifetime.”

The more I conversed with Kabla, the more previously unknown information entered my mind.

Thinking that visiting this place was a good decision, I unconsciously smiled gently.

“Talking with you, Mr. Kabla, I’ve lost track of time. If I had known, I should have come alone.”

I was just thinking about sending Clara back to the inn where Jawill Wilson was staying so I could continue the conversation a bit longer when Kabla spoke.

“If you have time, I’d be happy to introduce you to my dragon friend anytime.”

“Could I really meet them?”

“Of course. That friend is very interested in humans, and you’re living with a dragon yourself, aren’t you?”

“Excellent. When would be a good time?”

“Please decide on a date that works for you and send me a letter, and I’ll reply.”

As I was raising the corners of my mouth with a satisfied expression, Clara suddenly burst through the door.

She spoke with an urgent expression.

“Young master! Knights are coming this way!”

Knights suddenly coming here?

I reflexively stood up and grabbed the Raiden Sword I had placed on the table.

Then, a man in armor entered the house and raised his voice.

“Imperial Knights! Criminal Kabla!! You are under arrest for illegal research!”