Ch.302302. Let’s Not Judge People by Their Faces.

“So, you’re saying your father asked for the research materials to be brought to him.”

I pointed at the letter on the table.

“Surely you recognize your father’s handwriting, don’t you?”

“This is definitely my father’s handwriting, but… something feels suspicious.”

“What’s so suspicious about it?”

Olivia jerked her chin toward Jawil Wilson, whose face was severely swollen.

“Anyone can see he has the face of a criminal.”

“Let’s not judge people by their faces.”

At that, Jawil Wilson, still seated in his chair, burst out in frustration.

“It’s bad enough being beaten for no reason, but to call me a criminal-faced?! Young master, shouldn’t you normally be arguing with Miss Olivia, saying ‘How does Jawil Wilson look like a criminal?!'”

“…I thought we should acknowledge what’s true before moving on.”

“Y-young master!!”

Olivia waved her hand in the air, apparently not wanting to hear Jawil Wilson’s whining.

“Anyway, so we need to take father’s research materials to Lake Estate in the Eastern Continent, right?”

“…Are you slow? I’m pretty sure I explained it three times already.”

“Want to die?”

How could such vulgar words come from such a gentle-looking face…

Looking at Olivia, I couldn’t help but think I’d raised Lucien really well.

“As if you could kill me.”

“How dare a mere human challenge me?”

“I guess these days half-breeds count as dragons too?”

“Y-you bastard! You human mutant!”

“Why am I a mutant?”

“How can a human be that strong? It doesn’t make sense!”

“Anyone stronger than you is a mutant? As the daughter of Robert, I expected better logic. How disappointing.”

BANG-!!

CRACK-!

When Olivia slammed her palm on the wooden table, it split with a creaking sound.

Then she scratched her head and sighed.

“Hah… Father’s going to lecture me again.”

“I don’t have time to bicker with you. Just hand over the research materials, will you?”

“I don’t want to. How can I trust you?”

Hah…

I can’t kill her because she’s Robert’s child…

What am I supposed to do with her?

I ground my molars and forced a smile.

“I don’t mind not taking the research materials, but won’t you get in trouble with Robert later?”

“I think it’s better than getting in trouble for handing over research materials to strangers.”

Olivia sat in the chair with her legs spread wide despite wearing a skirt, putting on airs.

For the first time in a while, I felt my temples throbbing madly.

“…So what do you want?”

“Fight me again. If you win, I’ll give them to you.”

“Why should I fight you?”

“To get stronger, you need to keep fighting.”

“I have no interest in getting stronger by fighting you.”

“Then I absolutely cannot give you the research materials.”

It felt like talking to someone who hadn’t read any books.

No, more precisely, it felt like talking to a stubborn idiot who had read exactly one book.

I crossed my arms heavily and sighed.

“You already know from earlier. You’re no match for me.”

“T-that’s because you suddenly mentioned my father and I stopped!”

“If I hadn’t stopped then, would you be able to have this conversation with me now?”

“Ha! If I had transformed into a dragon, things would have been different!”

So even with half human blood, she can still transform into a dragon.

Well, I don’t think it would have made much difference anyway.

She was impressive, though.

At first, she moved so quickly I momentarily lost track of her.

However, that was only because I wasn’t fully prepared.

After examining her with my awakened eyes, I could tell Olivia wasn’t as strong as Lucien.

“Are you trying to spread rumors that dragons live in the Northern Continent? I’m sure Robert would be thrilled to hear that.”

“Y-you’re saying I’m weak, that’s why I’m acting like this!”

“I’m not saying you’re weak. I’m saying there’s no point in fighting because you keep insisting on it.”

“Anyway! You’re just saying I’m weak in a roundabout way!!”

Shouldn’t Robert have focused on educating his child before researching humans?

Her stubbornness was enough to make me throw up my hands in surrender.

“Fine, you’re stronger than me.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Now hurry up and hand over the research materials. Robert is waiting.”

Olivia’s expression brightened as if her anger had dissipated after I admitted to being weaker than her.

How simple-minded…

I felt proud of myself for always encouraging Lucien to read books when she was young.

When I pressed for the research materials, Olivia got up and ran into the room.

Judging by the noisy sounds reaching the living room, she seemed to be finally gathering the research materials.

Then, Jawil Wilson spoke up with a voice full of wariness.

“Young master, that human… no, that dragon… isn’t normal.”

“I can’t really disagree with that.”

“Seeing that human—no, dragon—made me realize how properly our Lucien has grown up.”

I chuckled at the thought that Jawil Wilson was thinking exactly the same thing as me.

“…When we get back, let’s treat Lucien even better.”

“Yes, I’ll spend my entire salary to buy delicious food and nice clothes for our Lucien!”

“I’m thinking the same.”

“In my life, I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman say such harsh things.”

“I guess Robert was too focused on human research and neglected his child’s education.”

“Come to think of it, it could just be her personality. Maybe her mother’s blood is stronger…”

Jawil Wilson and I continued gossiping as if venting our frustrations about how much we’d suffered from Olivia in such a short time.

Creeeeak-! Clunk-!

Just then, the door opened and Olivia emerged with a bag, smiling.

I immediately stood up and extended my hand to receive the bag.

“Did you make sure to pack all the research materials without missing anything?”

“Yes, I packed all the necessary research materials as mentioned in father’s letter.”

“Thank you.”

As I waved my palm asking for the bag, Olivia spoke with a wicked smile.

“I’m coming with you.”

*

Inside the bumpy carriage.

Judging by the warmer weather, we seemed to have entered the Eastern Continent again.

“Young master…”

“What?”

Jawil Wilson glanced at Olivia, who was snoring on the opposite carriage sofa, and whispered.

“Is it really okay to bring that devil to Lake Estate?”

“Well, Robert is at Lake Estate, so she probably won’t act as recklessly as she does now.”

“Hah… you should have desperately tried to stop her, young master!”

“She wouldn’t hand over the research materials unless she came along. What could I do? I couldn’t kill her either.”

“W-well, that’s true, but…”

“Forget it. Let’s think about it when we arrive.”

Then, Jawil Wilson stared at Olivia and whispered again.

“But looking at her sleeping so peacefully, she really is beautiful.”

At Jawil Wilson’s words, I turned my gaze toward Olivia.

Indeed, seeing her sleeping so soundly, her beauty shone through again.

Perhaps because of her height, she gave off the impression of a tall, beautiful girl.

I laughed helplessly and continued.

“The moment she opens her eyes and speaks, that outstanding beauty will vanish from our minds.”

“…Yes, that’s for certain.”

Our whispering seemed to have woken Olivia, who wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand and looked around.

“Hmmm! Are we there already?”

“We’ve reached the Eastern Continent, but we haven’t arrived yet.”

“Oh, really?”

“Just go back to sleep for now.”

I judged that her being asleep was better than being awake.

However, Olivia barely listened to me and started scratching her neck vigorously.

Then, with an irritated voice, she casually took off her top.

“Ugh! They said the Eastern Continent was unbearably hot, and they weren’t kidding!”

Splash-!

Despite her slender frame, her ample bosom was fully exposed.

Fortunately, she was wearing undergarments, but Jawil Wilson lowered his head in embarrassment.

I calmly took out a thin top from the luggage bag and handed it to Olivia.

“At least wear this.”

“Oh, thanks. Do you have bottoms too?”

Seeing that she was about to remove her thick pants right there, I quickly held up my palm.

“O-Olivia! Wait!!”

“Why?”

“Wear this!”

I handed her thin pants, and as Jawil Wilson and I were about to leave the carriage to give her time to change, Olivia tilted her head.

“Where are you two going?”

“Just stepping out for a moment.”

“Oh? Alright.”

Once again, it felt like a storm had passed in a short time.

After exiting the carriage, Jawil Wilson cleared his throat with a reddened face, still affected by what had just happened.

“Young master.”

“Hmm?”

“…There are times when Miss Olivia is beautiful even when she opens her mouth.”