Chapter 9: Discovery of the Blue-Eyed Hatchling94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgiphfvkk9
The crescent moon hung low in the sky, sharp as a silver hook, its pale light pouring like cold water across the silent streets. The wind carried the faint scent of wet grass and asphalt, brushing past the park’s lone streetlamps. The city slept, but under that blanket of calm, something stirred.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUdzJiwb9d
It should have been a perfectly peaceful night. Yet at that moment, the quiet was broken by faint, measured footsteps echoing across the park’s narrow path—“pat, pat”—each step steady, light, deliberate, the rhythm delicate enough to be mistaken for the flutter of a butterfly’s wings.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFxrPoZXVT
Kouya froze mid-stride. His sharp senses, honed by centuries of demonic instinct, instantly latched onto the source. The air shifted—still, but heavy, the faint scent of mana prickling at the edge of his perception.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoxB1hdvp7
Under the weak amber glow of a flickering streetlamp, a shadow appeared—small and solitary, cutting through the misty light like a fragile silhouette etched by the moon itself.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H0rXZ9RKA
A few seconds later, a girl emerged from the darkness.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt6Ej5J99Z
She looked barely eight years old, her figure petite, her steps soft and precise. Despite the cool bite of early spring, she wore a light pink dress with short sleeves, its frills fluttering slightly as she walked. Semi-transparent white stockings hugged her slender legs, and her polished round-toed shoes tapped rhythmically against the pavement. Her delicate face, with skin as pale as milk and features too perfect to belong to a real child, could easily have been mistaken for a porcelain doll come to life.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WvmFIbiIW
But what caught Kouya’s attention wasn’t her clothes or her face.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo8W8mnGYu
It was the small, curved horns sprouting from her head—and the thin, scaled tail swaying lazily behind her.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GHUiHLZM6
Kouya sighed. “A dragon… again?” he muttered under his breath. “And she’s walking straight toward me. Great.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcw9RpJpYn
He tilted his head slightly, crimson eyes narrowing in mild disbelief. “Two dragons in one evening? What the hell is this world turning into…?” A faint smirk tugged at his lips. “Well, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised anymore. Angels, demons, dragons… what’s next, a god dropping by for tea?”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3kdpFBg60
Still, curiosity stirred within him. He stayed where he was, hands in his pockets, observing quietly. The girl’s gait wasn’t aggressive. There was no hostility in her aura—just faint traces of ancient magic, suppressed and coiled beneath that childish exterior.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBQ4Iqeu45
As she came closer, even the breeze seemed to die. The air grew heavy, expectant.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZxwPnOJLF
Her hair was pure white—not dull or lifeless, but shining faintly under the moon, soft and lustrous like silk. Two long braids framed her face, swaying with each step, catching hints of silver light. Her bangs were perfectly straight, hiding part of her forehead. The twin tails of hair bounced lightly, as if betraying a playful energy that her expression did not.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw40wps1d6
Her face was a contradiction—a child’s round softness paired with unnaturally large eyes the color of a clear summer sky. Those eyes were bright, too bright, like mirrors that reflected everything and revealed nothing.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSNTqJjOrg
She stopped exactly one meter away, her small legs pressed together, posture unnaturally proper for her age. Then she tilted her chin up slightly, those blue eyes locking directly with his. In their depths, Kouya could see his own reflection staring back at him.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZgqEFtrRa
She said nothing. Her tiny mouth pressed into a flat line. That silence carried both caution and defiance. It was as if she had stepped into a world she didn’t quite like—and was daring it to make her leave.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFInPSPDVi
The sight, though undeniably strange, carried a disarming charm. Even for the Demon King himself, it took effort not to chuckle. The contrast between her serious expression and that tiny, fragile body made his hand twitch with the urge to pinch her cheek.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqZgHXxlNX
“Staaare—”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIqh2HfiSi
She didn’t move, didn’t blink, just kept staring. It wasn’t the gaze of fear or curiosity. It was quiet evaluation.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW6XfNk3a7
Kouya sighed softly, scanning the surroundings again. Empty. Not a soul nearby. Only the sound of the wind brushing past the trees.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTmoAu0u9U
‘So. A little dragon alone in the middle of a human city. Not suspicious at all,’ he thought dryly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bmv9nRbU0
‘Maybe she’s here to test me. Or maybe she thinks I’m an easy meal.’ A wry grin crossed his lips. ‘Too bad for her—I don’t get eaten.’94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbbcCGDLh3
He opened his mouth to speak, but a small, jelly-soft voice rang out first.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FixXi2FO7
“Pervert.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghOWqe1DOY
Kouya blinked. “…What?”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp51ZTR374
‘Did… did that little brat just call me a pervert?’94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QKSWQSnCw
The girl puffed her cheeks slightly, her voice still soft and sugary. “Peeking at Lady Tohru’s boobs. Pervert.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd9gDz1x2S
Kouya stared blankly, his expression deadpan. “…You’ve got to be kidding me.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOavZ386IYz
So she was connected to that lunatic maid dragon.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8xBlQdq19
“I didn’t peek at anything,” he muttered, rubbing his temple. “Those… things… were flopping all over the place. I was the one under attack.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08P2xcYZ4v
The girl crossed her tiny arms. “Tohru-sama belongs to me!”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcKwxrv2Kk
Kouya raised a brow. “Trust me, I’m not fighting you for her.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gpu0VVgFe
“Don’t you dare go near her again!”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIsHvW909O
“Deal,” he said without hesitation.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gDRsdA8ri
“Big pervert!” she declared once more, clearly pleased with herself.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rXFZ4TR7u
Kouya exhaled through his nose. ‘That’s it. This tiny dragon is one insult away from being punted into orbit.’94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs9Xzbk0wN
But before he could respond, the little dragon bent forward slightly, panting as if yelling had exhausted her. Then she stretched out one small, white hand toward him.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOgCEFBhd7
“Give it.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw1L0qrnvO
“…Give what?”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H6HeCJd9v
“I’m hungry,” she said bluntly. “Humans buy food with paper called money. I don’t have any. You give me.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmonQ5PFXs
Kouya blinked slowly. ‘Did this brat just demand tribute from me?’94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhdgZjWawm
The girl tilted her head, her tone as even as ever. “If you don’t give me money, I’ll tell everyone you’re a pervert.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwZS4D38u9
Kouya’s mouth twitched. “Heh.” He chuckled dryly. ‘So this is extortion now.’94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU5rMrGKR1
“Biiig~ pervert,” she sang softly, her voice so melodic it was almost cute. Almost.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDYIZk8x4I
Unfortunately, that was the exact moment two policemen happened to be passing by.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLlp6BWv5P
“Did you hear that?” one of them said.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPAhDBTCxU
“Yeah. Sounded like a kid.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd52UDhSZry
“Let’s check it out.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArXNAmMuGv
A few seconds later, the officers rounded the corner—and froze at the sight of Kouya standing beside a little girl in a pink dress, who was now beaming innocently.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe1dreNgnx
“Good evening, mister officers!” she chirped.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4PjvFwoKe
Their faces melted into smiles.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bl77ENzMt
“What a cute kid! Is this your sister?”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfg3etJmQJ
“Such pretty eyes! Wow, she’s adorable.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QPIzy5OjH
Kouya’s temples throbbed. ‘You fools. That “kid” could wipe this city off the map before you blink.’94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6CZjzCrGY
One officer wagged a finger at him kindly. “You shouldn’t bring your little sister out this late. Get her home safe, alright?”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqkroWR6l3
‘I’m not her brother,’ he thought bitterly, forcing a smile. ‘But sure. Let’s go with that.’94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICxNSE1IKU
The other nodded. “Yeah, it’s dangerous out here. You never know when some drunk idiot might start trouble.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEQnHEkL8B
Kouya nearly laughed. ‘If anyone starts trouble with her, I’ll be the one offering condolences to them.’94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hSRlEDqeA
He lifted a hand sheepishly. “She got hungry. Wanted oden. And if I didn’t buy it…” he sighed, “she might destroy the world.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHRXmm3VeP
The officers blinked, then burst into hearty laughter.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNqU4JwhI6
“Haha! That’s what being a good brother is all about!”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRySK0wz6N
‘Idiots. You have no idea how right I am,’ he thought grimly.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4xS80cjAN
One of them crouched beside the girl. “What’s your name, little one?”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnGiL1QS5O
She tilted her head. “Kanna. Kanna Kamui.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopWUHT0Ji9
“Beautiful name,” the officer said warmly. “If you go left out of the park and walk about five hundred meters, there’s a place called Sakata’s Stand. Great oden and takoyaki.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcmvt7rys1
The girl nodded solemnly. “Thank you.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpiI7m7xb4
The two men waved and walked off, still chuckling about the “adorable siblings.” Kouya could only sigh, following as Kanna marched proudly ahead, tail swaying like a banner of victory.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGJWqLZQoZ
The streets grew quieter. The last shop signs flickered dimly as shutters came down. Wind rustled through the alleyways, carrying the faint scent of soy and grilled batter.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUe5PLll8v
Kouya walked a few steps behind her, watching her small figure illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. Occasionally, she’d glance over her shoulder, eyes unreadable, before turning back around without a word.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2BCkHke8m
Soon, they reached the shop the officers had mentioned. Light spilled warmly from within, the smell of soup stock and fried octopus filling the air. Steam billowed faintly from the doorway, vanishing into the cold night.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvSc62iT0w
Kouya slid the wooden door open. A wave of fragrant heat washed over him, bringing with it the hum of voices, the sound of sizzling pans, and the comfortable bustle of ordinary life. After the long, strange walk through the silent streets, the simple noise almost felt… grounding.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RRmI3OeLB
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