Chapter 127:  Interlude – Dorothy’s Story (8)

500 years later, in a cave Dorothy had made her lair.

“Master, I’ve returned with this year’s supply of feed.”

Philia, a maid with chestnut hair and glasses, entered the cave carrying a large backpack.

The nameless natural cave, nestled deep within the Alphard Mountains, had been their home for over a decade, now feeling cozier than most houses.

At the entrance, Philia glanced around briefly and spotted a massive creature soundly asleep atop a pile of books in the far corner.

She approached it.

“Master, master. Please wake up. I’m back.”

“Hrmm…?”

Philia tapped the dragon lightly on the snout.

The slumbering dragon, oblivious to the world, opened its eyes, rubbed them with a forepaw, and slowly rose.

No longer the size of an adult man’s chest, it had grown to a towering 10 meters in total length.

 Its sharp teeth, impenetrable hide, and the blue high-voltage current occasionally sparking at the tips of its horns exuded an aura of menace.

Despite its fearsome appearance, Philia wasn’t the least bit intimidated.

In fact, she gazed at the dragon with a faintly exasperated expression, as if disappointed.

“Sleeping again in broad daylight? If you keep this up, you’ll get so fat you won’t be able to leave the cave.”

“Ugh, mind your own business… Dragons are supposed to lounge around in their lairs. Haven’t you read any storybooks?”

“In the ones I read, those dragons usually got stabbed by adventurers and sent to the afterlife.”

“That’s only for sloppy dragons whose lairs get discovered. I’ve been so quiet humans have probably forgotten I even exist.”

Stretching her massive frame, Dorothy let out a deep groan.

The reverberation shook the entire cave like an earthquake.

Finally fully awake, she asked, “So, did you bring the new releases?”

“Yes, I looted all the works registered with [HiFe] this year—3,157 books in total.”

Philia opened her subspace backpack and overturned it, spilling an enormous pile of books onto the cave floor.

Seeing this, Dorothy smiled with satisfaction.

“Good job. And you delivered the donations as well?”

“Yes. I donated 1,000 gold to every SienXLier and LierXSien creative booth. They’re probably hosting barbecue parties as we speak.”

“Heh heh heh, good, good…”

Dorothy chuckled sinisterly, the epitome of a wicked dragon.

Sien Lenos—the famed hero of the “Lier’s Party of Heroes”—had left an indelible scar on her soul 500 years ago.

Despite vowing to return and exact revenge, he selfishly sacrificed himself and fled to the afterlife alone.

When she first heard of his death, she had despaired and mourned for days.

After 50 years of intense training to ensure she could crush him, she emerged from seclusion only to learn he’d already passed away.

The frustration of that moment lingered vividly in her memory.

For three days and nights, she’d wept in her cave, questioning the purpose of her efforts and her future.

But over time, her perspective shifted. Revenge didn’t have to be physical.

If the overly proud and self-righteous Sien could have his honor thoroughly tarnished, wouldn’t that be the ultimate revenge?

She decided to generously fund BL doujin circles, ensuring the production of countless salacious works about Sien Lenos.

The idea that his name would be remembered only as a notorious “gay icon” brought her a wicked sense of satisfaction.

“My plans are proceeding smoothly… Sien Lenos, your name will forever be associated with absurd BL tales.

For daring to insult a dragon and escape, your crime is unforgivable, even in death!

Ahaha, ahahahaha, ahahahahahaha!!!”

Dorothy’s maniacal laughter roared through the cave, echoing off the walls and amplifying into a deafening storm of sound.

Unfazed, Philia calmly pulled earplugs from her pocket and inserted them.

Moments later, Dorothy’s laughter abruptly quieted, leaving only embers of rage behind, as if she were a manic-depressive patient.

Philia removed her earplugs and spoke softly.

“Have you finished, Master?”

“Yeah…”

A sullen and unenthusiastic response.

Dorothy flopped onto a pile of books she’d made into her nest, collapsing with a “plop.”

She stretched her neck and turned her head to look at Philia before speaking.

“So, is there anything interesting among the new releases this time? Anything you’d recommend to me?”

“I just bought them, so how would I know? I need to read them first to evaluate them.”

“Fair point. Then, is there one where I appear?”

“Yes, there’s one.”

“Really?!”

Dorothy sprang to her feet, her voice brimming with excitement.

“What is it? What’s the story about? Obviously, it’s about me reigning supreme over everyone else and achieving endless success, right?”

“It’s Sien x Dorothy, though.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!!!”

Dorothy’s dragon-face twisted in utter dismay.

She vented her frustration by punching the poor, innocent wall.

Stalactite fragments rained down above their heads.

“Why is it that every single story has to pair me with that infuriating guy? Why! Just why!!!!!”

“Well…”

For the week you appear in the memoirs, your only interaction is with Sien.

However, Philia kept that thought to herself, swallowing her words deliberately.

Instead, she calmly picked up the relevant book from the pile and asked with feigned indifference,

“Anyway, I bought all the works where you appear, as you instructed. Should I discard it if it displeases you? Just give the order, and I’ll take responsibility and burn it—”

“I never told you to burn it! Don’t jump to conclusions!”

Dorothy whipped her tail like a whip and snatched the book from Philia’s hand.

She growled slightly, shooting Philia a sharp look.

“I’m going to read this book now. Don’t bother me. Go sit in some corner far away and read another book.”

“Understood.”

“Did you just laugh??? Were you laughing at me?!”

“No, of course not.”

Philia stretched her fingers to forcefully lower the corners of her upturned lips.

She then bowed respectfully to Dorothy and said,

“Then, I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, please call for me anytime.”

“Hmph, fine.”

Philia moved a good distance away, just as Dorothy had ordered, clutching a new installment of her favorite comedy series to her chest.

However, she never managed to open the book.

Before she could even reach the far corner of the cave, Dorothy called her back again.

“Philia, wait a moment! Come here!”

“Calling me back less than 10 seconds after sending me off—what kind of absurd training is this, Master?”

“Don’t use the term ‘absurd.’ It brings back painful memories… Anyway, I have a question about the book’s content. Come over here for just a moment.”

“What is it?”

Philia strode back over to Dorothy, who was flipping through pages with her front paw before holding the book open to a specific page and showing it to her.

“Who’s this silver-haired girl here? Why is she holding the Holy Sword when she’s not Lier?”

“Huh? You didn’t know?”

Philia looked genuinely shocked.

How could someone not know about Sion in this day and age? She’s the next-generation hero, famous worldwide!

Seeing Philia’s reaction, Dorothy tilted her head in confusion.

“I had no idea… I don’t get much news here in the cave unless you tell me about it.

So, who is she? Judging by your tone, it seems like you know her well.”

“Of course, I do. She’s Lier’s successor, who appeared after 500 years.”

“What? Lier’s successor? So, she’s the new hero?”

“Exactly.”

Dorothy was momentarily stunned into silence by Philia’s answer.

Then, as if hit by a bolt of lightning, she grabbed Philia by the shoulders and shook her, shouting with urgency.

“What—what do you mean a new hero?! Explain everything from the beginning! How did this girl become a hero?!”

“Ow, ow, please take it easy, Master. My arms will fall off.”

“Ah, sorry…”

Dorothy stepped back with an awkward expression.

Thankfully, her habit of restraining her strength prevented her from crushing Philia’s slender arms.

Having narrowly avoided a life-threatening situation, Philia cleared her throat and began to speak.

“Well, you see, it all started like this…”

And thus, she started explaining everything she knew about the famous birth of the hero known as Sion.