Chapter 128:  Interlude – Dorothy’s Story (9)

Sion of Ashtaria.

The next-generation hero bearing the hopes of the entire continent and the most anticipated figure of the century.

Now a name so famous that even three-year-olds recognize it, yet surprisingly little is known about Sion’s origins.

Publicly available information is limited to two points: “She comes from the slums” and “At the age of eight, she received a revelation from the goddess, came to the temple, and drew the sword.”

Beyond that, there’s an almost eerie lack of information—whether she has parents, siblings, or any other family is a mystery.

While such a background could have made her an easy target for contempt, few, if any, dared to slight Sion because of her origins.

Partly due to the Salem royal family’s firm protection, but more fundamentally because Sion herself radiated such an overwhelming presence that her background seemed utterly irrelevant.

Her beauty surpassed that of every renowned beauty in history.

Her swordsmanship reached a level beyond mastery, entering the realm of divine artistry.

Her demeanor and actions were supremely elegant and refined.

The traits that made Sion stand out were countless, but none of them truly defined her essence.

Those who met her all testified the same: “In an instant, I understood what it means to say there’s a ‘difference in the caliber of one’s soul.’”

No grand justification was necessary.

She didn’t need to prove herself as a hero.

Anyone with functioning eyes—or even those blind or one-eyed—would understand just by standing next to her that she was extraordinary.

Sion possessed that much charisma.

Merely standing there, she had a presence that could subdue and command all.

At only 14 years old, she exuded an aura far more profound than that of dragons who had lived for centuries.

She embodied a noble force that transcended the human-made barriers of nobility and commoners.

If anyone arrogant enough to believe themselves irreplaceable exists, let them look at Sion.

They would immediately understand what it truly means to be special, to be directly blessed by the goddess Lafrey herself….

“So they say,” Philia concluded.

“Hmm…”

After hearing the explanation, Dorothy frowned in clear displeasure, her tail swishing irritably.

“Humph, for a mere human, how presumptuous. What? ‘She exudes more dignity than a dragon?’

Have they even seen a dragon before? Considering we haven’t revealed ourselves for the last 500 years, how dare they compare us to such trivial beings?”

“Indeed. It’s utterly disrespectful to make baseless assumptions about you, Master.

If they actually worked alongside her, they’d realize she’s no more dignified than a troll.”

“What did you say!?”

“Just kidding~”

Philia teased her master without batting an eye.

Dorothy glared at her for a moment before abruptly flopping to the floor, muttering in a sulky tone.

“Maybe I have been too reclusive. Seeing nonsense like this being treated as common knowledge… Perhaps it’s time to set the record straight.

I’ve matured enough now; maybe it’s time for a proper showdown to reestablish the hierarchy…”

Dorothy stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.

Even if she intended to display her majesty, it couldn’t be done recklessly.

There needed to be an appropriate pretext, something that society would see and say, “Ah, her actions are justified.”

Without that, it would merely appear as senseless destruction, tarnishing her reputation—or worse.

The title “Last Dragon” that she bore was prestigious, but it also made her an appealing target for those driven by ambition or greed.

If she carelessly exposed herself, she risked attacks from elite knights or even organized raid parties targeting her lair.

Even the strongest cannot stand against the entire world alone.

Isolation, no matter how noble it may seem, is simply a different form of weakness.

This was a lesson she learned from her greatest rival and mentor.

“Let’s see…”

As Dorothy’s thoughts wandered, an idea seemed to strike her.

She raised her head slightly, her claws resting near her lips, and narrowed her eyes.

“That elven mage from back then—didn’t they start running a school? Is that right?”

“If you mean Anatolia Academy, yes. It’s still thriving.”

“Then that Sion brat—will she be going there? Or is she already attending?”

“She’s not there yet. The minimum age for admission is 15, and she’s only 14.

But she’ll likely enroll next year when she’s eligible.”

“Really? Hehehe…”

Dorothy let out a low chuckle, her expression one of amusement as if she’d thought of something brilliant.

From Philia’s experience, however, Dorothy’s plans born from such moments were often utterly pointless and trivial.

“Alright, I’ve made my decision.”

Sure enough, shortly after, Dorothy declared with a triumphant expression,

“When that kid enters the school next year, I’m going too. I’ll polymorph into a human girl and join as well.”

“Seriously?”

Philia frowned.

There couldn’t be a more fitting example of behavior unbecoming of one’s age.

A 500-year-old dragon sneaking into a place where children receive their education to experience school life together—it was absurd.

And if she were to get caught, the embarrassment would be no joke.

However, Dorothy didn’t seem to be worried about such things and continued to explain in an excited tone.

“That’s right. Once I enroll as their classmate, I’ll show the true prowess of a dragon by proving I’m superior in every domain.

Whether it’s academics, sports, combat—every area by which society judges people—I’ll flaunt that I’m better than that kid.

After all, even though they’re called a hero, they’re still just a green 15-year-old. There’s no way they can compete with a serious ancient dragon, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Dorothy, despite appearances, had formidable innate abilities—not just physical, but intellectual as well.

She could perfectly memorize any book she read just once.

In any competition among minors, there was no chance she’d lose in terms of intellect.

The only issue was that her mental maturity didn’t quite match her overwhelming intellect.

Philia glanced up at Dorothy for a moment before clearing her throat softly and speaking.

“I understand the urge to settle old grievances, but don’t you think it might come off as a bit undignified?

A dragon sneaking into a school, hiding their identity just to one-up a little girl—people might mock you for it.”

“Hoho, not at all. ‘Just to one-up a little girl’? That’s entirely wrong.

Depending on how I time the revelation of my identity, I can spin the narrative however I want, can’t I?”

“You mean controlling the timing?”

“Exactly.” Dorothy exhaled confidently through her nose.

“Think about it. What does the emergence of a hero signify? It means that a global crisis demanding a hero is bound to descend upon the continent soon.

And that crisis will undoubtedly be something too much for them to handle alone.

So, if I reveal my identity at the precise moment they’re cornered and appear as their savior—”

“Ah, I see. In other words, you’ll claim you’ve been pretending to be a student all this time to help the hero save the world?”

“Exactly!”

Dorothy clapped her hands excitedly.

“This way, I can blend in with humans without damaging my dignity.

It’s also a perfect stage for the mysterious dragon ‘Dorothea Gwendolyn’ to make her grand debut. Don’t you think so?”

“Hmm…”

Philia folded her arms and pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

“If that’s the case, it doesn’t sound undignified. People might even praise you, calling you ‘the dragon who set aside personal grudges to protect the world.’”

“Right? Right?”

Feeling flattered, Dorothy grinned widely, her tail swishing like an excited cat’s.

“Plus, that’s not all. After revealing my identity, I could use it as a pretext to ‘educate’ them.”

“Educate? How?”

“What else? To settle the score for the torment I endured from that wretched man in the past!”

Dorothy shuddered at the memory.

Even though 500 years had passed, just thinking about it made her tremble with rage.

The trash of all trash, Sien Lenos, who had mercilessly assaulted her without any reason.

And the other party members who had stood by and let it happen.

Regardless of their varying levels of culpability, they were all targets Dorothy had vowed to repay someday.

Excuses about having had a reason back then were meaningless.

It didn’t erase the pain she had endured.

While she acknowledged that Sien’s so-called “education” had contributed to her survival to this day, that didn’t mean she’d forgive or forget.

Sien was dead, and Mana was too powerful, so she would settle the score with Sion, the new hero who inherited their legacy.

“Kuhuhu… Just imagining it is delightful, isn’t it?” Dorothy smiled wickedly.

“I’ll claim the position of the hero’s mentor and slyly repay all the horrors I endured under the guise of education.

Like making them hold a kettle during meals, summoning them during breaks for shoulder massages, or forcing them to do push-ups with me on their back for strength training…”

“With you on their back? They’d get crushed to death!”

“Obviously, I’d be in human form, you idiot!”

Dorothy swung her tail in irritation. Philia, used to this, casually dodged the attack.

“Anyway, I get your point. So, should I proceed with the admission process in the meantime?”

“Yes. Use as much of the savings as you need to set up a fake identity. I’ll handle the entrance exam preparations myself.”

“Understood. I’ll get started immediately.”

Philia bowed politely.

Thus, Dorothy’s master plan for revenge(?) was complete. She let her imagination run wild once again.

In her mind, she could vividly picture the hero, their face crumpled in despair, pleading with her.

“Kuhuhu… Second-generation hero, I have no personal grudge against you, but think of this as karma.

The sins passed down from your predecessor.

Now is the time to return all the misery I suffered at the hands of that human trash!”

Dorothy grinned wickedly.

It was a year before her devastating defeat at the hands of Sion during midterms, where she had run away in tears.