Ch.6969. No Matter What, Monsters Are Really Not Okay, Right?

“What the hell!”

Evairin barged into my room wearing a seductive outfit, and a thousand thoughts ran through my mind.

Was she trying to pounce on me?

Was that why she used the pretext of giving me information to stay here?

If that were the case…

Why don’t normal women ever pounce on me?

Well, thinking about it, I’m surrounded by nothing but crazy women, but still, a monster is really a bit too much, isn’t it?

“…You look serious.”

“You barging into my room without warning is more serious, don’t you think?”

“I had no choice because this is truly an urgent situation.”

“If you’re lacking male energy, I can share some of Jawill Wilson’s energy with you. He’d probably enjoy that anyway.”

“W-what nonsense are you spouting!? Didn’t I tell you that I, the Succubus Queen, can survive without human energy!”

Ah…

Right, she did say that.

I adjusted my posture while sitting on the bed.

“Then do monsters get lonely too?”

“I-I’m not saying I don’t get lonely, but that’s not why I came!”

“So, why did you suddenly barge in?”

I asked while tilting my chin, and Evairin opened her mouth with a grave expression.

“I sensed something. There’s a tremendous monster in this mansion.”

“A monster?”

“Yes, a monster with energy beyond imagination, incomparable to mine. That’s why I rushed here to warn you.”

For a moment, I flinched.

Evairin, who emerged from the Forest of Death, is already quite a powerful monster, but something even more terrifying than her…

Wouldn’t anyone be surprised?

However, I quickly grasped the situation and smirked.

“Ah, you must be talking about the dragon.”

“W-what did you just say? A dragon is here…?”

“Do you know what a dragon is?”

“I saw one long, long ago, when I was queen. I thought they were all extinct, but to think a dragon still exists…”

Evairin trembled as if recalling her encounter with a dragon.

I waved my hand dismissively, saying it was fine.

“Don’t worry, it’s on our side.”

“A dragon has sided with a mere human…?”

“Yes, so stop talking nonsense and go to bed.”

“…How can I sleep in the same space as a dragon!? This place could become a sea of flames at any moment!”

Listening to Evairin, I wondered if I was being too complacent.

Since Lucien calls me “father,” I seem to have lost all sense of caution.

Still, I should trust her.

It was my choice, after all.

“If you’re so worried, would you like to meet the dragon?”

“N-no!”

“You’re scared?”

“If you had ever faced a dragon, you’d be scared too, just like me!”

The dragon Evairin met must have been an adult?

If the mighty Succubus Queen is this terrified, I guess we can leave the monster wave to Lucien.

I was sighing in relief when I suddenly jerked and shook my head vigorously.

I need to stop these idle thoughts and focus.

Haven’t I learned this lesson painfully?

Nothing worsens a situation more than becoming complacent.

“No, I just explained. The dragon is on my—”

“D-dangerous!”

Suddenly, Evairin leaped onto my bed in shock.

Just as I was about to scold her for this absurd behavior, I sensed an energy from somewhere.

With such a strong presence…

Knock knock!

“It’s Lucien. May I come in for a moment?”

It seems Lucien isn’t so well-mannered after all, coming to my bedroom.

Evairin had sensed the energy before me and had already jumped onto the bed, hiding under the blanket.

‘Looks like Evairin is better at detecting others’ presence than I am.’

To avoid any misunderstandings, I got up from the bed and sat on a chair nearby.

“Oh, come in.”

Lucien entered the room.

She immediately looked at Evairin, who was peeking out from under the blanket, and released a visibly unpleasant energy.

“Who is that?”

“Lucien, what are you doing in my room?”

I crossed my legs, rested my chin on my hand, and furrowed my brow.

Lucien hesitated, then bowed and straightened up.

“I-I’m sorry. I sensed an uncivilized monster’s energy in your room, so I came to check.”

I turned my gaze to Evairin.

Now completely wrapped in the blanket, she was trembling so much that the bed shook, which somehow made me feel sorry for her.

Dragons must be truly terrifying.

To think the proud Evairin would freeze up, unable to even make eye contact.

By the way.

The energy Lucien emitted just now made my nerves stand on end.

Though I responded with a peaceful expression, it was so intense that it gave me goosebumps, even if just for a brief moment.

Indeed, a dragon is a dragon?

I sighed briefly and continued.

“She’s a monster who came from the Forest of Death to help me.”

“…Father, am I not enough for you?”

Lucien’s eyes welled up with tears, as if she hadn’t just been emitting dark energy.

I shook my head at her rapidly changing emotions.

“No, this is for your sake, Lucien. I can’t let you bear the burden alone.”

“I can protect you by myself just fine!”

“Lucien, I also have to take responsibility for the people of Lake Territory.”

“Father!”

“Lucien, do I need to repeat myself?”

“…Alright. If it’s your decision, Father, then it must be the right one.”

It wasn’t difficult to appease the sulking Lucien.

With a gentle smile, I patted my knee with my palm.

“Lucien, come here.”

“What!? Oh, yes.”

Lucien sat gently on my knee, her face flushed.

I raised my hand to stroke her hair softly and spoke.

“Daddy lives because of you.”

“Because of me?”

“Of course! Without my daughter, I wouldn’t know how to go on living!”

“…Uncle Jawill Wilson told me that you’re going to help with my training now.”

“Why? Do you want to keep learning from Uncle Jawill Wilson?”

“No, it’s just that you’re always so busy…”

Even if I have children with someone I love in the future, would they care for me this much?

I couldn’t control the corners of my mouth from rising.

“No matter how busy Daddy is, how could I not help my daughter with her training?”

“It’s not that, but I don’t want to interfere with your work.”

“It’s fine. Let’s go monster hunting early tomorrow morning!”

Lucien jumped off my knee, turned around, and grinned.

“Then I should go to my room and get some sleep, right?”

“Yes, go on.”

Lucien glanced once more at Evairin, who was still hiding under the blanket on the bed, then left the room.

I slowly rose from the chair.

“Hey, the dragon’s gone.”

After a moment of silence, Evairin cautiously peeked her face out from under the blanket.

Still not calmed down, she opened her mouth with wide, rabbit-like eyes, her pupils darting around.

“How can you call that dragon your daughter? I don’t sense any dragon energy from you at all?”

“Well, I’m human. I just somehow ended up being a dad with a dragon daughter.”

Kuk!

Come to think of it, the word “dad” now comes naturally to me.

At first, it felt so awkward I thought I’d die, but have I gotten used to it?

They say your position shapes who you are, and now I truly understand that saying.

As I smiled contentedly, Evairin’s mouth fell open.

“…This human is insane. How did you make a dragon so docile?”

“Are dragons usually violent?”

“Of course. They would create seas of fire at the slightest provocation. It’s because of that violent nature that they fought among themselves and went extinct.”

“But you saw Lucien just now. She’s super nice.”

“Did you not feel that suffocating energy she emitted earlier?”

“Well, from Lucien’s perspective, it’s natural to be wary since you’re a monster.”

Evairin swallowed hard, trying to calm her startled heart.

“…Anyway, you must never cross that monstrous dragon. No one knows how she might change.”

I’m working hard to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, just as Evairin warned.

That’s why I’m also training consistently to maintain strength comparable to Lucien’s.

“Haa… I got it, now go to bed.”

“Very well. I’m still uneasy, but since it’s already dark, I’ll take my leave for today.”

Evairin left the room, her eyes still vigilant until the end.

I pressed my temples gently and reached for the drawer under the bed.

At times like this, I felt an overwhelming desire to become stronger.

Clunk- Clunk-!

The magic stone I obtained from hunting monsters with Jawill Wilson and Miria Alphonse.

Being an ogre’s magic stone, it filled the room with a green light matching their skin.

“Absorb!”

Ding! ♪

━You have acquired the Hourglass skill.

* Hourglass: Upon activation, turns back time by thirty minutes.

However, the skill will permanently disappear after 3 uses.

This, this skill is mine!?