IFLIDD 5

# Chapter 5

It seemed she was contemplating whether it was really alright to do so.

Her master hadn’t specifically ordered her not to bring the child to him. But neither had he given permission to bring her. If she had to choose one, it seemed he didn’t welcome meetings.

Even when she had been hiding and watching in the study, he had turned his back as soon as he spotted Hiashel.

> *“Eum……”*

As Yuri furrowed her brows in contemplation, the child tugged at her sleeve.

> *“Yuri…… Can’t I go to the master?”*

Faced with those amber eyes that looked about to tear up at any moment, Yuri couldn’t refuse the request.

> *“L-Let’s go! At this time, he’s probably in his room. Let’s go.”*

When Yuri smiled, Hiashel took her hand with her other hand, the one not holding the pebble.

> *“Yes! Let’s go.”*

Clutching her heart with a *’Keuhup’*, Yuri walked forward, thinking she could die without regrets now. At the small, soft hand in hers, Yuri’s expression softened. But that softened expression hardened again as she got closer to Kahel’s room.

> *‘……Is this really okay for me to do……?’*

Standing before the door, Yuri had turned pale. All she had to do was put her hand on the doorknob and turn it, but her hand felt so heavy that she couldn’t bring herself to grab it.

Hiashel, who had been quietly looking up at her, let go of her hand.

> *“It’s okay now. I’ll go alone.”*

> *“Huh? But……”*

Yuri trailed off with a bewildered face.

To Yuri, who looked anxious, Hiashel showed the pretty pebble in her hand.

> *“I’m giving this as a gift, so I’ll go alone.”*

At that adorable gesture, Yuri covered her mouth again. She had covered it so much that it seemed to have become a habit. Then she lowered herself and gently stroked Hiashel’s head.

> *“Then, I’ll go prepare some snacks in the meantime.”*

> *“Yes!”*

Watching Yuri’s excited retreating figure, the child took a small deep breath.

> *‘The Dragon of Judgment is a little scary, though……’*

Because Yuri’s face had been so pale, Hiashel had magnanimously let her go. Of course, the child wasn’t as scared of the Dragon of Judgment now as she had been on the first day at the palace. Still, he wasn’t a comfortable presence, so she swallowed her saliva and reached out her small hand to knock on the door.

*Knock, knock.*

> *“Enter.”*

Permission came from beyond the door, but Hiashel couldn’t open it. When it came down to it, her hand wouldn’t obey. She had grabbed the doorknob, but couldn’t put any strength into it.

> *‘Why am I like this?’*

The doorknob only rattled without opening, and footsteps were heard from beyond the door. As the sound approached, a faint dark energy rose from the doorknob.

*Whoosh—*

> *‘Ah, it opened!’*

As the door opened and she lost hold of the doorknob, the faint dark energy evaporated in an instant.

> *“When I said enter, why didn’t you open it and……”*

Kahel, who had flung the door open, trailed off as he grumbled irritably. Because his eyes met the amber eyes standing before the door.

*Bang!*

> *‘What the!’*

Her joy at the door opening was short-lived. Upon spotting Hiashel standing there, Kahel closed the door again without hesitation. Hiashel felt a little sulky because of the door that had been shut so forcefully.

*Knock, knock.*

> *“…….”*

This time, even after knocking, there was no answer.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

Feeling somewhat stubborn, Hiashel knocked again.

> *‘I’ve felt this since last time…… why does he seem to avoid me?’*

Pouting her lips, Hiashel knocked again.

*Knock, knock, knock, knock.*

> *‘No, if anyone should be scared and avoiding someone, shouldn’t it be me?’*

*Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.*

*Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.*

*Whoosh—*

> *“Stop knock——”*

Unable to endure the persistent knocking, Kahel finally opened the door again. In that moment, Hiashel quickly slipped her body through the gap.

Startled, Kahel took his hand off the doorknob and stepped back.

> *‘See? He really is avoiding me.’*

Her feelings were a bit mixed, but since she had only come to say thank you, Hiashel reached out her hand holding the pebble toward Kahel.

> *“Last time……”*

> *“…….”*

But as if she had been about to attack him, Kahel distanced himself.

Blinking, Hiashel blankly looked up at him and then pattered closer. But faster than her, Kahel stepped back.

> *‘……Am I a more frightening being than the Dragon of Judgment?’*

Feeling confusion about her very identity, Hiashel looked down at the pebble in her hand. She had only wanted to give it as a gift because it was pretty.

> *‘I don’t have anything else to give……’*

Her throat tightened.

A pointless stubbornness rose in her.

When she stopped moving, Kahel also stopped in his place.

After catching her breath for a moment, Hiashel glanced around, then dashed toward him in one go.

As her small body charged *pitter-patter*, a thoroughly startled Kahel ran around the furniture, headed back toward the door, and left the room.

> *‘I’m a lady who knows manners! I’m just trying to say thank you!’*

Whether he knew how wronged Hiashel felt or not, Kahel only ran away. But he didn’t run far away; he maintained a certain distance from the child, repeatedly stopping. Thus, Hiashel, who had left the room following him, continued a strange game of tag with the Dragon of Judgment.

After walking quickly down the long corridor, Kahel soon looked back again, and when the child stopped, he also stopped.

> *‘Are you playing with me right now?’*

Hiashel’s sense of injustice gradually turned into irritation, and forgetting her original purpose, she focused solely on chasing Kahel. Soon feeling her physical limits, the child finally called out to him loudly.

> *“Master!”*

At that call, Kahel stopped abruptly and looked back with a strange expression.

> *“What……?”*

In that gap, Hiashel pattered over to him and grabbed his sleeve so he couldn’t run away anymore.

Having missed the timing to step back, Kahel froze with her holding onto him.

Ignoring Kahel’s expression, Hiashel held out the pebble she had been holding all along.

> *“Thank you for helping me last time.”*

> *“What is this?”*

> *“A gift.”*

Kahel furrowed his brows as he looked down at the child.

> *“……This is considered a gift?”*

> *“Yes.”*

He stood still with a face that said he couldn’t understand it at all. But Hiashel had no intention of withdrawing her outstretched hand.

> *“My arm hurts.”*

Kahel, who hadn’t budged as if he had no intention of taking it, reflexively reached out at the child’s mutter. The very small pebble was clutched in his large hand.

> *“A stone……?”*

> *“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”*

Beaming, Hiashel finally let go of Kahel’s sleeve. But this time, he didn’t run away either.

> *“I found it while I was out for a walk.”*

> *“……I see.”*

Kahel stood still, looking down at the pebble in his hand. It was nothing special, just a stone. Just a stone with a smooth surface.

> *‘What is this supposed to be……’*

Kahel couldn’t understand at all what this was supposed to be, that she had brought it as a gift. But seeing Hiashel, who looked proud with her shoulders puffed up, the surface did seem smoother and prettier than other stones.

> *“……Alright, thank you.”*

> *“Hehe.”*

Watching her smile shyly, Kahel unconsciously clutched the pebble tightly.

Even up close, he didn’t taint her blackly. Far from it, she seemed to brighten even her surroundings. The human child he hadn’t even glanced at before seemed, somehow, a little cute.

He shook his head to shake off the word ‘daughter’ that Ciel had spoken, which kept circling in his mind.

> *‘……Is it the god’s will.’*

—

**Chapter 1. To You, Who Will Live Carrying Something Else**

> 「Ziel, the Dragon of Earth, for the humans who farm.」

Ziel, the Dragon of Earth, wandered the world, going to places called barren and cursed lands, and bestowed blessings upon them. That is why he is still known among farmers as a dragon who is served.

—

A vast land where the wind blows.

Where there is fertile soil, there are bound to be barren lands.

A man, stepping on the parched, dry ground and surveying his surroundings, spotted a bird flying toward him and reached out his hand.

The bird with maroon and green feathers landed on his finger as if familiar with him.

Watching the bird preen its feathers, the man slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

Sun-tanned dark skin and deep green hair.

Red eyes met the bird’s gaze.

> *“……Hoo? That bastard did?”*

The bird chirped *ppororong* and suddenly flew up from his finger.

Watching the bird fly high into the sky for a moment, he let out a small laugh.

> *“If that’s true, it might be worth seeing?”*

Muttering lowly, he said he should go take a look and stepped forward again.

> *“Ah, but there’s somewhere I need to stop by first.”*

Then he immediately stopped, stroking his chin in thought.

The deliberation wasn’t long, and he soon scratched his head and stepped forward again.

> *“He won’t die even if I’m a little late, right?”*

His long, braided green hair swayed playfully behind his back. With each light step he took, small sprouts emerged from the parched, dry ground.

—

> 「Hiel, the Dragon of Healing, to tend to humans’ wounds.」

Hiel, the Dragon of Healing, headed south. It is said that he shared his healing power with several priests and continues to treat humans.

—

Deep into the southern part of the continent, in a deep rocky mountain range.

Tucked between cliffs stands a pure white temple.

Originally, it was located not far from inhabited cities, but as its fame grew, the temple was moved to a place difficult for people to find. Because too many people had come seeking it, causing problems.

A man with long blonde hair loosely tied back spotted a bird flying toward the temple and asked gently.

> *“What is the matter?”*

As if answering his question, the bird flew in and met his red eyes.

Reaching out his hand to let the messenger bird rest its wings, he maintained eye contact with it, then opened his eyes wide.

> *“Is that so? But…… that is already a known fact.”*

As if dissatisfied with his teasing reply, the messenger bird pecked at the man’s finger.

> *“Ciel has already brought her to me before. I have already met her, you see.”*

The messenger bird chirped *ppororong* and suddenly flew up.

Watching the retreating bird quietly, the man brushed back his golden hair.

> *“……Still, I would like to see her again.”*

Even after the bird was no longer visible, he continued gazing at the sky for a while.

—