Tia 2

“I don’t know either.”

“Hm?”

“Dragons have an extremely independent nature. We have no way of knowing each other’s whereabouts or activities. Moreover, just because I’m the Lord, I cannot demand sacrifices from them. That is the nature of relationships between dragons.”

Doyun nodded, hearing this for the first time.

“I see… that’s a pity.”

If the dragons had fought alongside the Alliance, it would have been an immense help.

It was a recurring disappointment he had harbored since his previous lives.

“If you happen to encounter another dragon, Razvolnic, do let me know. Even for us, such encounters are precious. Perhaps I may be able to persuade them.”

“Sure. I can’t say if I’ll meet any, but… if I do, I’ll certainly inform you.”

Doyun stroked the soundly sleeping Tia’s damp forehead as he nodded in agreement.

+++

“Waaah~!”

Tia, the Dragon Lord’s daughter, playfully frolicked in the World Tree’s gardens.

Doyun, who had inadvertently become her caretaker until she grew sufficiently, along with Sophie and Eloah, watched her with fond smiles.

Not only did Doyun provide life force, but Tia refused to be separated from him, hence his caretaker role.

‘Sometimes… this isn’t so bad.’

In any case, since he could cultivate his Mana Arts like breathing, it wasn’t a major detriment to his growth. Moreover, Tia would grow up soon enough.

“Daddy! I made you a necklace! Come here!”

Having fashioned a tiny necklace from garden flowers, Tia beckoned Doyun over.

‘Hahah…’

The World Tree’s gardener could only watch with a wry smile, having already been briefed by Millaine.

‘The, the Dragon Lord’s daughter…’

Heavens… that this little girl was a personage far beyond her own imagination.

How could a mere gardener like herself dare to admonish her?

Meanwhile, guild members passing through the gardens were puzzled to see Doyun playing with Tia.

“Hm? What kid is that?”

“Whoa. That little girl is absolutely adorable!”

While it wasn’t unusual to see children at the guild house given the World Tree’s high ratio of married members, the combination of Doyun and the little lady was peculiar.

Doyun was the guild’s most sought-after bachelor, his unmarried status an open secret among most female members. Moreover, as an other-worlder, he couldn’t possibly be related to her.

‘Whose child is she?’

The female members squinted suspiciously, observing the two intently.

“Daddy nice smell!”

As Doyun picked Tia up, she hugged him tightly with her short arms, nuzzling her rosy cheeks against his face.

“Here!”

“Hm? For me?”

“Mmh!”

Before he could respond, Tia promptly placed the gardener’s tearstained flower crown atop Doyun’s head.

Typical of a child, despite being meant for her ‘daddy,’ the crown’s size didn’t fit Doyun’s head.

But that only made it more endearing. Doyun gave Tia a peck on the cheek and stroked her hair affectionately.

“Thank you.”

“Kkyaruk!”

Tia hugged her ‘daddy’ tightly.

“Tia, want to try what you learned from Mommy yesterday?”

“Yeah!”

At those words, Sophie and Eloah, who had been watching from afar, hastily retreated further.

“Ge, get back!”

“Hm?”

Even the puzzled guild members backed away at the Master’s command.

“I can totally do it now!”

Woong-

A magic circle manifested at Tia’s tiny fingertips as she confidently declared.

Bzzzzt!!

Thick, powerful lightning tendrils snaked outwards like serpents.

“Yikes!”

“Wh, what the…!”

The guild members cried out in fright.

Soon after, the lightning dissipated.

“Eh…?”

Despite taking the full brunt, Doyun stroked Tia’s hair nonchalantly, shielded by a divine beast’s potent anti-magic resistance.

“Well done.”

“Yay~! Mommy! Daddy said I did well!”

Tia waved excitedly at Tiamat, who was watching from a third-floor window.

Tiamat smiled back at her adorable daughter, waving in return.

Meanwhile, the guild members who had witnessed this were still dumbfounded.

“Wh, what was that…?”

“Lightning magic? That child cast it?”

While the magic itself was clumsy and crude, it was nonetheless the notoriously difficult lightning elemental – enough to leave them slack-jawed.

Moreover, the sheer output alone was genuine – unsurprising, as Tia already possessed Mana Level 7, among the highest for Disciples.

For a child of such tender age to wield magic of that caliber, and lightning no less? Truly?

As they stood gaping, Eloah approached to explain.

“She’s the Dragon Lord’s daughter.”

“Pardon!?”

“She was born just three days ago.”

Their astonished cries echoed.

‘Truly… the Lord’s daughter?’

Regardless of what they had envisioned, this young lady far surpassed it all – an existence of unimaginable stature.

“Then, Disciple Han Doyun is…”

Their doubts led back to the initial question.

Why was Disciple Han Doyun playing with her? Moreover, the young lady seemed to dote on him like family.

“Ah, Disciple Han Doyun has taken on the role of her caretaker.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Pardon? Why?”

There were a few subtly different reactions. Eloah offered a wry smile in response.

The underlying implication of the last reaction was, ‘Why did he receive such a privilege?’

Anywhere in the world, connections with the powerful and esteemed held immense value.

But this was the Dragon Lord’s daughter, no less.

To become her caretaker and grow close to her would be akin to forging ties with a king or emperor.

‘If it was simply handed out arbitrarily, I would have…’

Of course, it made sense to bestow such a valuable opportunity upon the skyrocketing Doyun.

The favoritism was understandable. But ultimately, the choice would be the young lady’s.

‘It’s been three days since her hatching, they said.’

Then, judging by their interactions, she seemed to be an outgoing, friendly type who doted on anyone.

‘If I befriended the young lady…’

If I took over as her caretaker and forged a connection with the Dragon Lord?

A few guild members swallowed hard, envisioning the vast potential gains from such a trivial opportunity – a chance to change their lives and status entirely.

Thus, two guild members approached the frolicking Tia.

“Young lady~”

“Hm?”

Truly friendly, unguarded smiles that nonetheless exuded subtle underlying motives, evoking a sense of discomfort.

“Hello~ We are…”

At that, Tia wrinkled her nose disdainfully.

“Smell.”

“Pardon?”

Her previously adorable, vibrant smile vanished as she fixed them with a stony glare, pointing her finger accusingly.

A tiny magic circle formed at her fingertip, causing the guild members to flinch anxiously.

“Yikes!”

“Wa, wait! Young lady! No, don’t!”

Just as the magic circle flared, tendrils of lightning beginning to manifest…

“Don’t.”

Doyun, having approached unnoticed, firmly grasped Tia’s tiny finger.

The infused force shattered the feeble magic circle formed on his iron grip.

“Daddy!”

“It’s ‘brother,’ I said.”

As if switching personas, Tia’s demeanor instantly brightened upon seeing Doyun, clinging to him tightly.

“Daddy! They smell!”

“Pardon? Th, them?”

Suddenly referred to as ‘them,’ the bewildered pair stumbled over their words.

“She’s still quite shy around strangers. Could you please back off?”

“Huh? Ah, yes… We’re very sorry!”

Having narrowly escaped death, they inadvertently met Tia’s hardened gaze and hastily fled.

“Tia. You can’t use magic on others.”

“But they smell.”

“…Do Eloah and Millaine not ‘smell’?”

“Nuh-uh!”

This wasn’t an isolated incident.

Doyun and Eloah surmised that Tia could somehow broadly sense others’ intentions, expressed as ‘smells’ through a child’s perspective.

Of course, factors like Doyun’s life force and Eloah’s elven aura likely played a role too.

“Eloah smells nice! Like trees!”

“But Daddy’s smell is the best!”

Hence, above all others, Tia adored and clung to Doyun the most.

Her happiest moments were nuzzling Doyun’s embrace and dozing off in his arms.

“What does Daddy’s smell remind you of?”

“Dunno! The best smell in the world!”

Saying so, Tia buried her nose in Doyun’s embrace, nuzzling him vigorously. Doyun smiled fondly at her adorable antics.

However, shortly after, as Eloah watched this heartwarming scene, Millaine rushed over hurriedly.

After a whispered exchange, Eloah questioned her with surprise.

“The two of them? Secretly? Why?”

“I, I don’t know either. They just said they wanted to meet Disciple Han Doyun…”

The two women looked towards Doyun, who had long noticed the new arrivals and nodded acknowledgment.

+++

Heroes Haineken and the Vagabond Hero.

Having secretly visited the World Tree, the pair thoroughly swept the audience chamber with an anti-scrying artifact before taking their seats.

“Heheh. It’s been a while. I haven’t been able to pay you a visit lately.”

“I trust you’ve been well.”

They exchanged greetings with smiling faces.

But Doyun sensed the discomfort and apology underlying Haineken and the Vagabond Hero.

Haineken avoided meeting Doyun’s gaze and remained silent.

“But… what brings you both here so unexpectedly?”

Doyun cautiously broached the subject.

“…My apologies.”

Haineken’s spear thrust towards Doyun’s head.