Chapter 9: Discovery of the Blue-Eyed Hatchling138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeCz8nejXO
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7IX7pJZLf
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo5zo4d11Y
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tRDXGxsDX
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSLi06ogxI
A few seconds later, a girl emerged from the darkness.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg8MSjCDFF
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeqkyt2Fbb
But what caught Kouya’s attention wasn’t her clothes or her face.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHUsRLj0mi
It was the small, curved horns sprouting from her head—and the thin, scaled tail swaying lazily behind her.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCFfqzvCyv
Kouya sighed. “A dragon… again?” he muttered under his breath. “And she’s walking straight toward me. Great.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamoSvmzwcm
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?”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVUIJ9yD21
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvNrGGMcbF
As she came closer, even the breeze seemed to die. The air grew heavy, expectant.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodSWSCxcn6
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUupaPdZqA
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKp5jxVVDu
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAJB6IAkZc
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F0Q6p0M1p
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfL0ZFQgIKB
“Staaare—”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexVxRCTJnF
She didn’t move, didn’t blink, just kept staring. It wasn’t the gaze of fear or curiosity. It was quiet evaluation.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjb8yqvKb87
Kouya sighed softly, scanning the surroundings again. Empty. Not a soul nearby. Only the sound of the wind brushing past the trees.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ271hrWns5X
‘So. A little dragon alone in the middle of a human city. Not suspicious at all,’ he thought dryly.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryXUNMwYFt
‘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.’138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRSiCJde4J
He opened his mouth to speak, but a small, jelly-soft voice rang out first.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbx2DuDIuV
“Pervert.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcheXYBMks
Kouya blinked. “…What?”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFEAreMzfU
‘Did… did that little brat just call me a pervert?’138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSphnF8JrM6
The girl puffed her cheeks slightly, her voice still soft and sugary. “Peeking at Lady Tohru’s boobs. Pervert.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1dXVUL0tp
Kouya stared blankly, his expression deadpan. “…You’ve got to be kidding me.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWukQEdTmX
So she was connected to that lunatic maid dragon.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2A94BNEky
“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.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOxVC5mmmw
The girl crossed her tiny arms. “Tohru-sama belongs to me!”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wx3d5gQ7l
Kouya raised a brow. “Trust me, I’m not fighting you for her.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqgB9koSZL
“Don’t you dare go near her again!”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0DaPHrfPd
“Deal,” he said without hesitation.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuMTdJlpBv
“Big pervert!” she declared once more, clearly pleased with herself.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjKq0K3CNp
Kouya exhaled through his nose. ‘That’s it. This tiny dragon is one insult away from being punted into orbit.’138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WYR8JDRp7
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDKUtscwqI
“Give it.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXnj0LHzhs
“…Give what?”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LDpuCPipG
“I’m hungry,” she said bluntly. “Humans buy food with paper called money. I don’t have any. You give me.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGHTNY7EFH
Kouya blinked slowly. ‘Did this brat just demand tribute from me?’138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LVo5cp98v
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.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MUOtwFIfL
Kouya’s mouth twitched. “Heh.” He chuckled dryly. ‘So this is extortion now.’138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnAr3Sq9ZP
“Biiig~ pervert,” she sang softly, her voice so melodic it was almost cute. Almost.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1XkiuqKYU
Unfortunately, that was the exact moment two policemen happened to be passing by.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGybkxuZE4O
“Did you hear that?” one of them said.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD80KUBSa4q
“Yeah. Sounded like a kid.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lm2dXVKE2
“Let’s check it out.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFYPl9Qp3Q
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHwVSLTlgt
“Good evening, mister officers!” she chirped.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v8tkR4mo1
Their faces melted into smiles.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r8kCCuhde
“What a cute kid! Is this your sister?”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYHtb9WndG
“Such pretty eyes! Wow, she’s adorable.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX0m5x4t1F
Kouya’s temples throbbed. ‘You fools. That “kid” could wipe this city off the map before you blink.’138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VbNCAh2WE
One officer wagged a finger at him kindly. “You shouldn’t bring your little sister out this late. Get her home safe, alright?”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNgWfJH98l
‘I’m not her brother,’ he thought bitterly, forcing a smile. ‘But sure. Let’s go with that.’138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuYdgRtuAy
The other nodded. “Yeah, it’s dangerous out here. You never know when some drunk idiot might start trouble.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQTuJAlLSZ
Kouya nearly laughed. ‘If anyone starts trouble with her, I’ll be the one offering condolences to them.’138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBqw0o1kfi
He lifted a hand sheepishly. “She got hungry. Wanted oden. And if I didn’t buy it…” he sighed, “she might destroy the world.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9zZ6s4dj1
The officers blinked, then burst into hearty laughter.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBjIaHyIUn
“Haha! That’s what being a good brother is all about!”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBq9BRietG
‘Idiots. You have no idea how right I am,’ he thought grimly.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5vBDyfUUn
One of them crouched beside the girl. “What’s your name, little one?”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCh0SgoY3ES
She tilted her head. “Kanna. Kanna Kamui.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsYDYYpYff
“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.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKvTvDz9hs
The girl nodded solemnly. “Thank you.”138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyuS8wwGbQ
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ784pgDMHNq
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNUlMwmOCQ
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlU6xXrQNyf
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJeFwNgBNb
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1jWvtL8la
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