NABC Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Birds flapped their wings, soaring across the heavens, lifting their gaze to the sky.
The fading moonlight gave way to a radiant golden sunrise, illuminating the world with a warm, amber glow.
*Chirp chirp chirp*
The birds’ song gently stirred the drowsiness from their bodies, making them feel lighter.
“Mmm... Ugh...”
Stretching to relieve her stiff body, she softly shook those lying next to her on the bed.
“Elena, Rivera, wake up. It’s already noon.”
“Mmm...Master...”
“...Ugh... It’s cold...”
Elena rubbed her eyes, waking up, covering her mouth as she yawned and then pursed her lips.
“Haaam... Mm.”
Rivera, shivering from the cold, also opened her mouth, mimicking Elena.
“Haa... Brrr...”
The golden dragon, wrapped in thin cloth, shivered as her skin trembled beneath the flimsy fabric.
“Ah-choo!”
With a sneeze, a drop of mucus ran from her nose. Rivera’s brows drew into a single line, frustration evident.
“...”
Keyal looked over Rivera.
Her clothes—a tattered white scrap of fabric with torn edges and patches of dirt—were clearly long overdue for replacement.
‘Wow... No chance of fixing that.’
In such thin clothes, it was no wonder she was shivering. Even a dragon, immune to hot and cold, was bundled up tightly in blankets, coughing.
Keyal approached Rivera.
*Tap*
He lifted her gently by her hollow underarms.
“...Dad?”
Ignoring Rivera’s murmur, he brought his face close to her chest.
Closing the gap, he sniffed Rivera’s scent.
“D-Dad...?!”
Rivera squirmed, her legs dangling as she clung to his forehead, trying desperately to push him away.
...Though her efforts seemed to have little effect.
As he caught a whiff, Keyal’s expression twisted.
‘Oh my... this smell!’
Forcing himself to hide his grimace, he put on a smile as Rivera looked at him, tilting her head in confusion.
“...”
Carefully, Keyal set her down on the bed sheet.
“...Rivera.”@@@@
“Huh?”
“For now... shall we get cleaned up?”
---
Passing through a crowded alley, they entered the bustling marketplace.
Rivera reached into a brown bag, taking out a snack and savoring it with a broad, joyful smile that could warm anyone’s heart.
“Hehe. Is it that tasty?”
With crumbs all over her mouth, Rivera carefully offered some to him.
“Want some, Dad?”
Seeing the fish, fried whole with its scales intact, Keyal shook his head.
“I’ll pass.”
Rivera, sucking her fingers, gave him a disappointed look, and Keyal felt a pang of guilt.
‘Ugh...’
Since birth, he could never stomach fish.
Eating it made him gag, and, in severe cases, he’d end up in the bathroom, retching for hours.
Just seeing it now was making him queasy... the thought of eating it? Terrifying.
The coat looked a bit large on her small frame.
The sleeves completely covered her petite hands.
“I thought I got a youth size...”
Rivera was noticeably shorter than others her age.
A quick glance confirmed her height barely reached his waist; she likely didn’t stand taller than 160 centimeters.
“Do you like it?”
“Mm-hmm. But it’s a little big.”
Of course.
Looking down at her legs, he saw the coat trailing along the ground.
It swept up dirt and completely concealed Rivera’s frame.
“...”
At that moment...
He felt a chilling presence behind him.
Elena was staring at him with a wide, almost murderous grin.
‘...Is she sulking because I didn’t buy her anything?’
Keyal hesitated, then spoke to Elena.
“A-Are you alright, Elena?”
His voice shook, his whole body instinctively tensing at the intimidating presence of the elf behind him.
Was it an instinct? Or a gut feeling?
Was she jealous? Or just feeling left out?
Thoughts tangled messily in his mind.
One wrong word, and he felt as though his head might roll under the force of her terrifying aura.
Though technically, her killing intent wasn’t even aimed at him.
“E-Elena?”
“Master.”
“Yes... yes?”
Her gaze softened slightly, though a shadow of madness lingered.
‘Damn... that’s terrifying!’
It felt like a scene straight out of a horror film.
“Would you... buy me something too?”
The spirit in front of him asked, her voice cold.
*Shiver*
Her feeble tone made his knees tremble.
“Oh... is there something you need?”
*Crack*
Elena clenched her left hand, as though she were about to crush and tear something apart.
“Hehe, it’s nothing much. Just... I need a little something.”
‘I just asked, didn’t I...?’
She gave another unsettling grin, filling his vision.
“Pretty please? You’ll... do it for me, won’t you?”
It sounded like a request, but it was a threat. She wasn’t asking—she was demanding, leaving no room for refusal.
Reading her intentions, Keyal nodded.
Knowing he was doomed if he said no, he decided to play it safe.
Maybe she wouldn’t actually kill him... but if he didn’t comply, someone was likely to get torn apart by this elf.
So, with one hand holding the young dragon’s sleeve and the other gripping the elf’s tense hand, he led them along.
Below him, Rivera, and beside him, Elena glared at each other. To an outsider, they might have looked like parents and their daughter.
If only he weren’t wedged between them.
‘Ugh... Damn, that hurts.’
He wondered how such delicate-looking hands could possess this much strength. But then he remembered—
‘Oh, right.’
They were both 6★ Heroes.