Chapter 9: Discovery of the Blue-Eyed Hatchling8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J6dzlW30x
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSVthQ0Ufa
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ43cfJVlt
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHwc2Iuq6c
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyTluEP1sm
A few seconds later, a girl emerged from the darkness.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bh2UMFfYm
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWDrkLeeGA
But what caught Kouya’s attention wasn’t her clothes or her face.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlmdpWMjeT
It was the small, curved horns sprouting from her head—and the thin, scaled tail swaying lazily behind her.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB4cQ1CTIU
Kouya sighed. “A dragon… again?” he muttered under his breath. “And she’s walking straight toward me. Great.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM2fMXeIvh
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?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBiC58UgVr
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeIWZAC17G
As she came closer, even the breeze seemed to die. The air grew heavy, expectant.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lZT3AcBKT
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3D2Jqoyiw
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ccmPML3Uj
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XvuvpTzX5
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqyUBlQkcU
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObIyhYPDRP
“Staaare—”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdZnb3PB6M
She didn’t move, didn’t blink, just kept staring. It wasn’t the gaze of fear or curiosity. It was quiet evaluation.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zB1AKO4ot
Kouya sighed softly, scanning the surroundings again. Empty. Not a soul nearby. Only the sound of the wind brushing past the trees.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZnzrPKhUy
‘So. A little dragon alone in the middle of a human city. Not suspicious at all,’ he thought dryly.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymnlpm5vUu
‘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.’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaA4JxEZ7S
He opened his mouth to speak, but a small, jelly-soft voice rang out first.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLeEoU4PIF
“Pervert.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLy4NUCGmU
Kouya blinked. “…What?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHKPYcVG7a
‘Did… did that little brat just call me a pervert?’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdoHbBhhLW
The girl puffed her cheeks slightly, her voice still soft and sugary. “Peeking at Lady Tohru’s boobs. Pervert.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseBsLJKwPG
Kouya stared blankly, his expression deadpan. “…You’ve got to be kidding me.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScvkSymyG0
So she was connected to that lunatic maid dragon.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa89hLZXi0
“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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcER5fco4R
The girl crossed her tiny arms. “Tohru-sama belongs to me!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwm3a3I4GA
Kouya raised a brow. “Trust me, I’m not fighting you for her.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvUhojvcl9
“Don’t you dare go near her again!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeWpmqKDil
“Deal,” he said without hesitation.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjZ7sH3pW3
“Big pervert!” she declared once more, clearly pleased with herself.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhSMXg6etT
Kouya exhaled through his nose. ‘That’s it. This tiny dragon is one insult away from being punted into orbit.’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRgf1wKwee
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD4sTdmi7K
“Give it.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHvN7nge3h
“…Give what?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmOicKcDmv
“I’m hungry,” she said bluntly. “Humans buy food with paper called money. I don’t have any. You give me.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo6Lk39djd
Kouya blinked slowly. ‘Did this brat just demand tribute from me?’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb4eM5zwAC
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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjzDmd0Eds
Kouya’s mouth twitched. “Heh.” He chuckled dryly. ‘So this is extortion now.’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmuYTetWuA
“Biiig~ pervert,” she sang softly, her voice so melodic it was almost cute. Almost.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zUryDb1iY
Unfortunately, that was the exact moment two policemen happened to be passing by.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYpePCFn5W
“Did you hear that?” one of them said.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCot57z11F
“Yeah. Sounded like a kid.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NZ05xLjjf
“Let’s check it out.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinzFjH4vts
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SUTsBpTeA
“Good evening, mister officers!” she chirped.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHIckivveD
Their faces melted into smiles.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2YHzYzqqm
“What a cute kid! Is this your sister?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqHUsLeJeI
“Such pretty eyes! Wow, she’s adorable.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb8c1gXfwj
Kouya’s temples throbbed. ‘You fools. That “kid” could wipe this city off the map before you blink.’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphXMxxbJCD
One officer wagged a finger at him kindly. “You shouldn’t bring your little sister out this late. Get her home safe, alright?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgYhblwpbz
‘I’m not her brother,’ he thought bitterly, forcing a smile. ‘But sure. Let’s go with that.’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaPoWk0cBi
The other nodded. “Yeah, it’s dangerous out here. You never know when some drunk idiot might start trouble.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyosMpypu9
Kouya nearly laughed. ‘If anyone starts trouble with her, I’ll be the one offering condolences to them.’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRLX42AId4
He lifted a hand sheepishly. “She got hungry. Wanted oden. And if I didn’t buy it…” he sighed, “she might destroy the world.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSDTGSYYmn
The officers blinked, then burst into hearty laughter.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf0ts0tBqj
“Haha! That’s what being a good brother is all about!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQAVbgvUQi
‘Idiots. You have no idea how right I am,’ he thought grimly.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡop3M5H7s0B
One of them crouched beside the girl. “What’s your name, little one?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZclG4Bo1Bd
She tilted her head. “Kanna. Kanna Kamui.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2DRUa3UHj
“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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bzTdwFuvk
The girl nodded solemnly. “Thank you.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXlsiJtzjq
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dQVh9lsKF
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExC0TkeRBH
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EnxM3rkqq
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdVJtqbOTV
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJa6xOwUox
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