PLML 36

CHAPTER 36

“Wait a second, this feels like…”

Jayna instinctively sensed it — her ability wasn’t working because of the restraints placed on the dragon.

Carefully, she reached out. As her hand drew near, the dragon let out a low growl and bared its teeth.

“Don’t do anything dangerous. Come out of there.”

Asins didn’t actively stop her.

The restraints placed on magical beasts could only be removed by someone registered as their master or someone with stronger magic than what was infused into the restraints. In theory, Jayna shouldn’t have been able to remove them.

That’s how it should have been.

But the moment her fingers touched the cold metal wrapped around the Belligus Dragon’s tail, a black aura surged around Jayna.

Her once icy-blue hair bloomed like spring flowers, and her sapphire-like eyes shimmered before regaining their original soft pink hue. Her petite body, which barely reached Asins’ waist, reverted to her adult form — the Jayna of her twenties.

At the same time, Asins also returned to his original form.

“Huh?”

As his point of view suddenly dropped, Asins quickly raised his hands to check his body. Even though he hadn’t dispelled the spell himself, it had been lifted.

“This makes no sense.”

To cancel a spell, one needed magic stronger than the caster’s own.

Asins had never been outmatched in terms of magical power — until now. And yet, Jayna, who wasn’t born with any particularly powerful magic, had just undone his spell.

While Asins stood dumbfounded, Jayna remained completely focused — so much so that she didn’t even notice she had returned to her original form.

One by one, Jayna began removing the restraints from the Belligus Dragon. The dragon watched her warily but didn’t attack, as if it understood she meant no harm.

Once the heavy chains and collar binding its body fell away, the dragon slowly uncurled itself and stood.

Tension hung in the air, yet Jayna remained calm. For some reason, she was sure the dragon wouldn’t harm her.

The dragon flapped its wings. Dust whipped through the air and stung her eyes, and Jayna raised an arm to shield herself.

“Kruuung…?”

The dragon folded its wings and looked toward her.

“Oh? It’s okay. Don’t mind me, just stretch out.”

At her words, the dragon fully extended its wings and gave its body a good shake. Even then, it was careful not to hit Jayna with its wings.

Jayna hadn’t yet used her tamer ability on the Belligus Dragon. But the creature already seemed to follow her, as if tamed.

“Hey, Belligus Dragon, want to come live with us?”

The dragon blinked its black eyes and looked at her.

Those eyes, filled with the warmth of spring. Seeing Jayna’s gentle smile, the dragon slowly nodded.

Jayna hadn’t even used her ability, and yet the Belligus Dragon was willing to follow a human. Even Asins couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

When Jayna reached out her hand, the dragon lowered its head, as if asking to be petted.

As she gently stroked the dragon’s head, the familiar black band formed on her wrist. A strand of darkness extended from the band and wrapped around the dragon’s neck, then disappeared.

She had succeeded in taming the A-rank magical beast — the Belligus Dragon.

From behind the bars, Jayna looked at Asins and beamed brightly.

“You remember what I said earlier, right?”

How could someone declare they’d raise an A-rank monster at home so confidently?

“Adorable.”

Though she’d pretend to show respect for her goals, Jayna was also impulsive and stubborn — but Asins couldn’t help but find her endearing.

Is this what having a daughter feels like?

Despite how ridiculous her idea was, Asins found himself nodding.

“Alright. Belligus Dragon, you’re mine now!”

It was a line from an anime she used to watch as a kid — something she’d always wanted to say.

‘Now I need to give it a name. I can’t keep calling it Belligus Dragon forever.’

Jayna looked closely at the dragon, thinking hard.

Unfortunately, Jayna wasn’t particularly gifted with naming things.

Fluffy cotton-like fur? “Cotton Candy.” A dog she once knew? “Poppi.” So then, for a dragon?

“Which do you prefer — Yongyongi or Yonggari?”
(Note: Both are playful/kiddish dragon name puns in Korean)

Asins finally spoke up.

“…Neither.”

“Huh? Why not?”

Jayna looked at the Belligus Dragon as if asking what was wrong. The dragon also shook its head, apparently unimpressed with the names.

“What about Levann? Levann, what do you think?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Levann’s short reply was the final blow.

Jayna pouted.

“You guys act like you’re name experts or something… Fine. Then you name him — you and Lord Asins.”

“Before that, maybe we should think about how we’re going to get it out of here.”

“Oh, right. Good point.”

Jayna nodded, eyeing the dragon’s massive body.

‘If it breaks through the walls like Poppi did…’

She shook her head, remembering the newspaper article Perus had shown her.

‘Is there any way to hide something this big?’

As she worried, an idea came to her — soft, fluffy Cotton Candy’s shrinking form.

“Hey, Belligus Dragon, can you shrink too?”

“Grrrng…?”

“Like how I was smaller when I came in.”

“You think it can understand you?” Asins said with a scoff.

And just then, the dragon’s body began to shrink.

“…It can.”

“…”

“Kraang!”

As soon as they stepped outside, the dragon peeked out excitedly, flapping its little wings and taking in the fresh air.

Jayna hurriedly pushed its head back in, worried someone might see.

‘Wait… That’s right.’

Only after coming out did she remember something important.

In all the excitement over taming the Belligus Dragon, she had forgotten to think about what to do afterward.

“Don’t worry. I cast an illusion spell. They won’t notice the dragon is missing for a while.”

Asins spoke casually, sensing her concern.

‘Right. And since I left using transformation magic, no one will suspect I took the dragon.’

Thanks to Asins’ magic, they arrived at the ducal estate in an instant. Jayna headed to Theoris’s office to tell him her plans to raise the dragon.

“Theo.”

Theoris was frowning as he reviewed documents, but when he saw Jayna, he smiled warmly. Just as he was about to rise, the dragon hidden inside Jayna’s clothes stirred.

“Jayna, what is that…?”

Jayna, like she was about to present a surprise gift, pulled the creature out from her arms.

“Ta-da!”

“…”

Seeing the magical beast that emerged from Jayna’s clothes, Theoris was rendered speechless.

A sleek body covered in black scales. Large wings and a long, smooth tail. It was small, but unmistakably a Belligus Dragon.

“It’s a Belligus Dragon.”

“…Yes. I can see that.”

“I’m going to raise it here. That’s okay, right, Theo?”

Theoris opened his mouth to speak but just pressed his fingers to his brow.

A mysterious magical beast. A Saius Wolf. A shapeshifting cat-Asins. Now a Belligus Dragon. That made four creatures Jayna had brought home.

Was it only a matter of time before she brought home a person next?

His head throbbed just thinking about it. But refusing her wouldn’t change anything.

“Fine. But it must wear a restraint.”

“Okay! Thanks, Theo. Oh, and I have another favor.”

“What is it?”

Theoris prayed it wouldn’t be another outrageous request.

“Help me name it.”

Thankfully, it wasn’t a difficult one.

“…A name, you say.”

“Yes. I’ve already thought of a few. But Lord Asins and Levann didn’t like any of them.”

“And what are they?”

“Option 1: Yongyongi. Option 2: Yonggari. Option 3: Blacky the Dragon. I only had two at first, but came up with the third on the way here!”

Theoris smiled as Jayna looked up at him proudly.

“They’re all fine names.”

Jayna’s eyes dimmed in dissatisfaction.

“Theo, don’t just say that to be nice.”

Theoris hadn’t been humoring her. As long as it was a name Jayna gave, any name would be fine. If she decided to call him Yongyongi, he might just change his name.

“Out of the three, ‘Blacky the Dragon’ is the best.”

He answered after a thoughtful pause. Jayna’s expression lit up again.

“Right? I thought that one sounded best too!”

In her arms, the Belligus Dragon seemed visibly displeased with its new name.

Theoris grabbed it gently by the scruff of its neck. The dragon bared its teeth in protest, but being small enough to fit in Jayna’s arms, it had no way to fight back.

Jayna soothed the growling dragon — no, Blacky — with a gentle pet.

Theoris was displeased. He didn’t like some magical beast resting in Jayna’s arms. Nor did he like that it shared in the affection that should be his alone.

“Blacky, don’t be like that. This is your daddy now.”

Daddy.

Theoris replayed her words in his head.

Oddly enough, it didn’t feel bad. He had no desire to be a beast’s father — but being called “Daddy” by Jayna somehow made him feel more closely connected to her.

“Jayna, if you’re free tomorrow, would you like to go on a date—”

Before he could finish, the necklace around Jayna’s neck glowed red.

“Theo, hold Blacky for a second.”

She handed the dragon to Theoris.

“Wait, Jayna—”

“Shh!”

Jayna hushed him, then touched the jewel.

—“Ah, can you hear me?”

Perus’s voice rang out loud and clear.