A year later, when Dora-sama came to visit.
That day, I was resting Saleyakt’s head on my lap, eating meat together and teaching Saleyakt words.
"This is... a surprise."
Dora-sama looked at us in shock.
No, maybe she was startled.
She's not someone who is surprised very easily.
"Dora-sama! Forgive my rudeness...!"
Rudeness to Dora-sama was unacceptable, so I immediately tried to stand up to salute her.
"No, as you were."
Dora-sama stopped me and observed Saleyakt carefully.
Her eyes were full of curiosity.
"That little dragon has become so obedient…?” "Grrr..."
Bothered by Dora-sama’s penetrating glare, Saleyakt raised his hips and lowered his head, growling menacingly.
"Stop it, that’s Dora-sama."
Saleyakt quickly calmed down in response.
However, the alertness in his eyes remained.
I was able to befriend Saleyakt.
But that didn’t mean that Saleyakt had become a suitable dragon for Dragon Race.
Saleyakt simply was no longer afraid of me.
This cowardly and vigilant dragon recognized me as safe, but his attitude toward any other Dragon Race remained unchanged.
Dora-sama's subordinates were frustrated by this.
Normally, if dragons became obedient, they obeyed any Dragon Race.
"Sorry, Dora-sama, besides me..."
"It’s fine... Rather, making so much progress in just a year. How did you do it?"
"We ate together. We slept together."
"I didn’t think it would improve that much from just that..."
Dora-sama looked at Saleyakt with a difficult expression.
Saleyakt was quite nervous before Dora-sama as well.
After spending so much time together, I can tell.
He was frightened.
“He was just scared. I gave him a name and shared meals with him to reduce his fear of me, so he could open his heart toward me.”
"...I see, is that your method?"
"Yes. It had a track record."
Actually, I already tamed two other dragons by then beside Saleyakt.
The two adjacent to Saleyakt.
Both were a bit larger than Saleyakt.
After approaching them in the same manner as Saleyakt and got them used to the Dragon Race, they both moved onto the next area.
The only one still wary of the Dragon Race was Saleyakt.
The shyest of all the Red Dragons.
"I've heard about your achievements… Yes...”
Dora-sama thought for a bit after receiving my report.
Perhaps wondering if this rookie was telling the truth.
If my words were true, then it invalidated the methods Dora-sama refined for millennials.
To a young man she spent a few decades teaching.
Of course, that was not my intention at the time... but I did what was thought to be impossible.
What was impossible?
Training individuals deemed impossible to train.
Yes, Saleyakt was a dragon that couldn’t be trained.
Dora-sama's training method starts with provoking the dragon, letting it attack then defeating it.
First, teach it social order.
So most dragons learned not to go against the Dragon Race.
However, there were rare individuals that the method didn’t work on.
They’d desperately try to run away at every opportunity.
Basically recognizing the Dragon Race as a terrible enemy that could not be defeated.
If this happens, the red dragon would never learn to submit.
Teaching obedience by simply beating every individual of the species, life isn’t so simple.
The dragons that couldn’t be trained were butchered for meat.
Is it cruel?
You can only say so because you are living a peaceful life right now.
Any Red Dragons that escape would certainly see Dragon Race as enemies.
If you let one escape, it might kill your friends one day down the line.
Those that can’t submit must be killed.
It's really simple.
Having a choice in the first place is already a form of kindness.
However, taking the life of a dragon that failed its training is a difficult task.
The time and effort spent on it all return to nothing.
Therefore, newcomers are tasked with taking care of dragons that failed their training.
Let them give them their best shot and learn that some dragons can’t be trained.
At the same time, learn to deal with the dangers of dealing with these potentially lethal creatures.
Then kill the dragons that won’t listen.
This way, newcomers learned from the failures.
How the dragon we see everyday differs from the wild dragon.
However, I had a good match with such a dragon.
The experience of living as a feral child in the Demon World may have come in handy.
I realized that the dragon was just frightened.
I tried something other than a beating.
So unfortunately I didn’t learn the first lesson of this job.
That some dragons would never submit.
In fact, I still think that way.
That it’s possible to communicate with every dragon.
"Alright."
After pondering for a while, Dora-sama clapped her hands.
"You can take care of the dragons sent here for a while longer."
Dora-sama instructed me.
Isn’t she wonderful?
Pushing aside her own pride.
That was also a sign of her loyalty to Dragon God.
Her criterion was whether it benefited Dragon God, and thus the Dragon World.
In the Dragon World, there were not many who could throw away their personal pride back then.
“Use that kindness to prepare as many dragons as you can for training.”
In the end, she never told me that this area was for failed candidates waiting to be killed.
It may have been for my consideration.
For she was wise like that.
Foreseeing a place like this may become obsolete in the near future.
■
From that day on, I got busier.
We didn’t have that many dragons that failed training. Through various means Dora-sama rounded up failed candidates from other training grounds around the Dragon World and sent them to me.
Every individual was frightened, intimidated, and trying to escape when they saw me.
Some were severely hurt and moribund, a reflection of how brutal training could be.
I was not able to get along with every individual.
No matter how hard I tried, there were children who wouldn't open their heart.
It was Saleyakt that helped such individuals become flexible.
When Saleyakt found such an individual, he approached and said something to them.
I didn't know what that something was.
Even though I taught him Dragon God Language, I didn't learn Dragon from him in return.
But he certainly said something to the dragons.
Sometimes not by voice, but by using his tail to gently tap the other dragon.
A sign of trust and security.
Red Dragons reassure each other by using their tails to settle down.
But I didn't know at that time.
At first I was wondering if it was a sign of courtship.
Saleyakt was far superior to me in understanding the human heart.
No, maybe in this case it was the dragon heart.
Either way.
After some time with Saleyakt, the dragons would grow compliant.
Even after leaving me and moving on to regular training, they became excellent, obedient, and brave fighters.
The individuals who did not submit even after a beating may have had those traits by nature.
Saleyakt and I made these individuals compliant then sent them out more and more often.
Although Saleyakt himself has no fondness for anyone but myself.
Because of that, the appraisal of my work also rose.
Training dragons to submit that other training areas could not.
Moreover the dragons that we turned out were also higher quality in comparison.
The rumor of an excellent trainer who produced excellent individuals spread.
Rookies that came after me would come to learn from me.
Of course I taught them what I was doing.
I didn't think of the method as anything special enough to hide it.
Most didn't do as well as I did.
However, the number of individuals killed decreased, and the number of high quality dragons increased.
After the new method spread, regular training changed a little as well.
My method started to be incorporated into the standard manual.
How long was it?
After a century or so.
Before long, I became known as the expert for training untrainable dragons, with my own understudies.
It wasn’t an official position.
Just a sign of recognition by other dragon trainers.
That someone incredible appeared.
A mix-race with Demon Blood, Dragon God’ adopted son, and disciple of Dora-sama.
Studied and imitated by many of the younger folks.
Thus my fame spread.
During that time, living in Dragon God’s mansion became more comfortable as well.
I felt that I was able to help Dragon God-sama.
Everyday I would talk with Dragon God-sama, Lunaria-sama, or the servants about the dragons I trained that day.
These days were smooth sailing.
Everyday was wonderful.
It was a really great time.
I loved the dragons, and I was loved by them.
Lunaria-sama and Dragon God-sama also accepted me.
If I were to consider my happiest and most fulfilling days, those would be the days.
■■■
Laplace noticed a sudden change in Rostelina’s face.
Her complexion or facial expression… something physical.
Basically, Rostelina puffed her cheeks.
"What’s wrong?"
“So this isn’t a happy or fulfilling time for you?”
Laplace lived a simple life now.
For various reasons, he spent most of his time in his room writing, leaving the mountain only a few times a year.
In other words, it’s fair to say he was living a homely, fulfilling life with Rostelina.
"Hmm... well, Rostelina. This might be hard for you to swallow, but it was different back then. Back then, I had a mission, a purpose; it’s a different form of happiness.”
"..."
Rostelina was very sad.
If Master is not happy with me here, why am I here?
Won’t it be better to pack up my luggage and leave it tomorrow?
"But, Rostelina"
"Yes…"
"As you know, I don’t like feeling alone. My life now is full of anxiety and frustration, I might get crushed if I am alone."
"!"
"Thanks to you. I'm saved, Rostelina."
"Yes! Master!"
Rostelina’s face brightened.
Even if I am useless, I am doing something for Laplace.
It was very nice to hear that from Laplace himself.
"But Master, I have a question."
"What is it, Rostelina?"
“I learned about how you came to train dragons, but I haven’t heard the important bit about how you met Dragon-san.”
"Huh?"
Laplace scratched his spotted hair as he said.
"What are you saying, Rostelina. I just did, didn’t I?"
"?"
"Saleyakt. That red dragon who lives behind my house, the master of this mountain, is the first dragon I met."
"What!"
Rostelina shouted.
At the same time, feeling embarrassed.
Of course it was.
Somehow I thought of the dragon in the story as a different dragon?
It’s hard to tie those two together.
The lazy Red Dragon that only eats, won’t fly, obedient to Rostelina is the ferocious Saleyakt. It’s hard to imagine.
"Dragon-san is Saleyakt!?"
"Yes."
Thinking back, maybe Master did call Dragon-san Saleyakt on occasions before.
Rostelina, realizing that she never paid attention, couldn’t hide her surprise.
"That Saleyakt, master of this mountain, King Red Dragon, might have grown a bit frail.”
Laplace said, an unhappy growl echoed from behind the house.
Apparently, it heard him.
"Ha ha ha, don't get angry"
"Huh... I didn't know that Dragon-san was that amazing."
"Yes, but that's why Rostelina should respect him as well."
"Yes, Master!"
Rostelina gave a loud reply.
She seemed enthused by the idea that the dragon she always took care of was someone amazing.
"Mmm?"
Laplace looked out at the window.
A big, full moon rising.
It seemed that it was already night.
"I'm sorry, Rostelina, I'm going out for a little while. The rest of the story will have to wait.”
"Yes, Master!"
Rostelina watched Laplace leave without any complaints.
For she was a long-ear.
While not as long as Laplace, she was also long-lived.
No matter how long he would be away, one day she can hear the rest of the story.
I must keep this house tidy for when the Master returns.
However, she can’t beat her sleepiness.
"But well... I'm gonna sleep for today."
Rostelina returned to her bed, to refresh her energy for the next day.
A year later, when Dora-sama came to visit.
That day, I was resting Saleyakt’s head on my lap, eating meat together and teaching Saleyakt words.
"This is... a surprise."
Dora-sama looked at us in shock.
No, maybe she was startled.
She's not someone who is surprised very easily.
"Dora-sama! Forgive my rudeness...!"
Rudeness to Dora-sama was unacceptable, so I immediately tried to stand up to salute her.
"No, as you were."
Dora-sama stopped me and observed Saleyakt carefully.
Her eyes were full of curiosity.
"That little dragon has become so obedient…?” "Grrr..."
Bothered by Dora-sama’s penetrating glare, Saleyakt raised his hips and lowered his head, growling menacingly.
"Stop it, that’s Dora-sama."
Saleyakt quickly calmed down in response.
However, the alertness in his eyes remained.
I was able to befriend Saleyakt.
But that didn’t mean that Saleyakt had become a suitable dragon for Dragon Race.
Saleyakt simply was no longer afraid of me.
This cowardly and vigilant dragon recognized me as safe, but his attitude toward any other Dragon Race remained unchanged.
Dora-sama's subordinates were frustrated by this.
Normally, if dragons became obedient, they obeyed any Dragon Race.
"Sorry, Dora-sama, besides me..."
"It’s fine... Rather, making so much progress in just a year. How did you do it?"
"We ate together. We slept together."
"I didn’t think it would improve that much from just that..."
Dora-sama looked at Saleyakt with a difficult expression.
Saleyakt was quite nervous before Dora-sama as well.
After spending so much time together, I can tell.
He was frightened.
“He was just scared. I gave him a name and shared meals with him to reduce his fear of me, so he could open his heart toward me.”
"...I see, is that your method?"
"Yes. It had a track record."
Actually, I already tamed two other dragons by then beside Saleyakt.
The two adjacent to Saleyakt.
Both were a bit larger than Saleyakt.
After approaching them in the same manner as Saleyakt and got them used to the Dragon Race, they both moved onto the next area.
The only one still wary of the Dragon Race was Saleyakt.
The shyest of all the Red Dragons.
"I've heard about your achievements… Yes...”
Dora-sama thought for a bit after receiving my report.
Perhaps wondering if this rookie was telling the truth.
If my words were true, then it invalidated the methods Dora-sama refined for millennials.
To a young man she spent a few decades teaching.
Of course, that was not my intention at the time... but I did what was thought to be impossible.
What was impossible?
Training individuals deemed impossible to train.
Yes, Saleyakt was a dragon that couldn’t be trained.
Dora-sama's training method starts with provoking the dragon, letting it attack then defeating it.
First, teach it social order.
So most dragons learned not to go against the Dragon Race.
However, there were rare individuals that the method didn’t work on.
They’d desperately try to run away at every opportunity.
Basically recognizing the Dragon Race as a terrible enemy that could not be defeated.
If this happens, the red dragon would never learn to submit.
Teaching obedience by simply beating every individual of the species, life isn’t so simple.
The dragons that couldn’t be trained were butchered for meat.
Is it cruel?
You can only say so because you are living a peaceful life right now.
Any Red Dragons that escape would certainly see Dragon Race as enemies.
If you let one escape, it might kill your friends one day down the line.
Those that can’t submit must be killed.
It's really simple.
Having a choice in the first place is already a form of kindness.
However, taking the life of a dragon that failed its training is a difficult task.
The time and effort spent on it all return to nothing.
Therefore, newcomers are tasked with taking care of dragons that failed their training.
Let them give them their best shot and learn that some dragons can’t be trained.
At the same time, learn to deal with the dangers of dealing with these potentially lethal creatures.
Then kill the dragons that won’t listen.
This way, newcomers learned from the failures.
How the dragon we see everyday differs from the wild dragon.
However, I had a good match with such a dragon.
The experience of living as a feral child in the Demon World may have come in handy.
I realized that the dragon was just frightened.
I tried something other than a beating.
So unfortunately I didn’t learn the first lesson of this job.
That some dragons would never submit.
In fact, I still think that way.
That it’s possible to communicate with every dragon.
"Alright."
After pondering for a while, Dora-sama clapped her hands.
"You can take care of the dragons sent here for a while longer."
Dora-sama instructed me.
Isn’t she wonderful?
Pushing aside her own pride.
That was also a sign of her loyalty to Dragon God.
Her criterion was whether it benefited Dragon God, and thus the Dragon World.
In the Dragon World, there were not many who could throw away their personal pride back then.
“Use that kindness to prepare as many dragons as you can for training.”
In the end, she never told me that this area was for failed candidates waiting to be killed.
It may have been for my consideration.
For she was wise like that.
Foreseeing a place like this may become obsolete in the near future.
■
From that day on, I got busier.
We didn’t have that many dragons that failed training. Through various means Dora-sama rounded up failed candidates from other training grounds around the Dragon World and sent them to me.
Every individual was frightened, intimidated, and trying to escape when they saw me.
Some were severely hurt and moribund, a reflection of how brutal training could be.
I was not able to get along with every individual.
No matter how hard I tried, there were children who wouldn't open their heart.
It was Saleyakt that helped such individuals become flexible.
When Saleyakt found such an individual, he approached and said something to them.
I didn't know what that something was.
Even though I taught him Dragon God Language, I didn't learn Dragon from him in return.
But he certainly said something to the dragons.
Sometimes not by voice, but by using his tail to gently tap the other dragon.
A sign of trust and security.
Red Dragons reassure each other by using their tails to settle down.
But I didn't know at that time.
At first I was wondering if it was a sign of courtship.
Saleyakt was far superior to me in understanding the human heart.
No, maybe in this case it was the dragon heart.
Either way.
After some time with Saleyakt, the dragons would grow compliant.
Even after leaving me and moving on to regular training, they became excellent, obedient, and brave fighters.
The individuals who did not submit even after a beating may have had those traits by nature.
Saleyakt and I made these individuals compliant then sent them out more and more often.
Although Saleyakt himself has no fondness for anyone but myself.
Because of that, the appraisal of my work also rose.
Training dragons to submit that other training areas could not.
Moreover the dragons that we turned out were also higher quality in comparison.
The rumor of an excellent trainer who produced excellent individuals spread.
Rookies that came after me would come to learn from me.
Of course I taught them what I was doing.
I didn't think of the method as anything special enough to hide it.
Most didn't do as well as I did.
However, the number of individuals killed decreased, and the number of high quality dragons increased.
After the new method spread, regular training changed a little as well.
My method started to be incorporated into the standard manual.
How long was it?
After a century or so.
Before long, I became known as the expert for training untrainable dragons, with my own understudies.
It wasn’t an official position.
Just a sign of recognition by other dragon trainers.
That someone incredible appeared.
A mix-race with Demon Blood, Dragon God’ adopted son, and disciple of Dora-sama.
Studied and imitated by many of the younger folks.
Thus my fame spread.
During that time, living in Dragon God’s mansion became more comfortable as well.
I felt that I was able to help Dragon God-sama.
Everyday I would talk with Dragon God-sama, Lunaria-sama, or the servants about the dragons I trained that day.
These days were smooth sailing.
Everyday was wonderful.
It was a really great time.
I loved the dragons, and I was loved by them.
Lunaria-sama and Dragon God-sama also accepted me.
If I were to consider my happiest and most fulfilling days, those would be the days.
■■■
Laplace noticed a sudden change in Rostelina’s face.
Her complexion or facial expression… something physical.
Basically, Rostelina puffed her cheeks.
"What’s wrong?"
“So this isn’t a happy or fulfilling time for you?”
Laplace lived a simple life now.
For various reasons, he spent most of his time in his room writing, leaving the mountain only a few times a year.
In other words, it’s fair to say he was living a homely, fulfilling life with Rostelina.
"Hmm... well, Rostelina. This might be hard for you to swallow, but it was different back then. Back then, I had a mission, a purpose; it’s a different form of happiness.”
"..."
Rostelina was very sad.
If Master is not happy with me here, why am I here?
Won’t it be better to pack up my luggage and leave it tomorrow?
"But, Rostelina"
"Yes…"
"As you know, I don’t like feeling alone. My life now is full of anxiety and frustration, I might get crushed if I am alone."
"!"
"Thanks to you. I'm saved, Rostelina."
"Yes! Master!"
Rostelina’s face brightened.
Even if I am useless, I am doing something for Laplace.
It was very nice to hear that from Laplace himself.
"But Master, I have a question."
"What is it, Rostelina?"
“I learned about how you came to train dragons, but I haven’t heard the important bit about how you met Dragon-san.”
"Huh?"
Laplace scratched his spotted hair as he said.
"What are you saying, Rostelina. I just did, didn’t I?"
"?"
"Saleyakt. That red dragon who lives behind my house, the master of this mountain, is the first dragon I met."
"What!"
Rostelina shouted.
At the same time, feeling embarrassed.
Of course it was.
Somehow I thought of the dragon in the story as a different dragon?
It’s hard to tie those two together.
The lazy Red Dragon that only eats, won’t fly, obedient to Rostelina is the ferocious Saleyakt. It’s hard to imagine.
"Dragon-san is Saleyakt!?"
"Yes."
Thinking back, maybe Master did call Dragon-san Saleyakt on occasions before.
Rostelina, realizing that she never paid attention, couldn’t hide her surprise.
"That Saleyakt, master of this mountain, King Red Dragon, might have grown a bit frail.”
Laplace said, an unhappy growl echoed from behind the house.
Apparently, it heard him.
"Ha ha ha, don't get angry"
"Huh... I didn't know that Dragon-san was that amazing."
"Yes, but that's why Rostelina should respect him as well."
"Yes, Master!"
Rostelina gave a loud reply.
She seemed enthused by the idea that the dragon she always took care of was someone amazing.
"Mmm?"
Laplace looked out at the window.
A big, full moon rising.
It seemed that it was already night.
"I'm sorry, Rostelina, I'm going out for a little while. The rest of the story will have to wait.”
"Yes, Master!"
Rostelina watched Laplace leave without any complaints.
For she was a long-ear.
While not as long as Laplace, she was also long-lived.
No matter how long he would be away, one day she can hear the rest of the story.
I must keep this house tidy for when the Master returns.
However, she can’t beat her sleepiness.
"But well... I'm gonna sleep for today."
Rostelina returned to her bed, to refresh her energy for the next day.
