Chapter 9: Discovery of the Blue-Eyed Hatchling202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlMURwfWcv
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGyYoRQqfH
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFKuVtNwww
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMKwhWT8m3
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWjkTrtMxe
A few seconds later, a girl emerged from the darkness.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qCnfHjJ3X
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe2ekKtJ0h
But what caught Kouya’s attention wasn’t her clothes or her face.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2bTKAFC6R
It was the small, curved horns sprouting from her head—and the thin, scaled tail swaying lazily behind her.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm5R0kAq2Q
Kouya sighed. “A dragon… again?” he muttered under his breath. “And she’s walking straight toward me. Great.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZrKeC9yhT
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?”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLUKZkBgEA
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfcClTxxqD
As she came closer, even the breeze seemed to die. The air grew heavy, expectant.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFioEnrJ6D
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21TtvFyg46
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3N7XhfXSe
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXviJH1ykFx
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aryed73B3
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vMwbGxw4X
“Staaare—”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L304pjoZM
She didn’t move, didn’t blink, just kept staring. It wasn’t the gaze of fear or curiosity. It was quiet evaluation.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqpmk5ZpZ2
Kouya sighed softly, scanning the surroundings again. Empty. Not a soul nearby. Only the sound of the wind brushing past the trees.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cK41H0iDr
‘So. A little dragon alone in the middle of a human city. Not suspicious at all,’ he thought dryly.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntAPa0ne0d
‘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.’202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDtNRT3oYD
He opened his mouth to speak, but a small, jelly-soft voice rang out first.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcLN9eWV7r
“Pervert.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Qwvh7dEyW
Kouya blinked. “…What?”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdSRWuRMhs
‘Did… did that little brat just call me a pervert?’202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qcLfU8X7C
The girl puffed her cheeks slightly, her voice still soft and sugary. “Peeking at Lady Tohru’s boobs. Pervert.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrrSazGIj9
Kouya stared blankly, his expression deadpan. “…You’ve got to be kidding me.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzLQcIuI22
So she was connected to that lunatic maid dragon.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmws9qpOZ5
“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.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfP7NZ780o
The girl crossed her tiny arms. “Tohru-sama belongs to me!”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHIF8w0tLK
Kouya raised a brow. “Trust me, I’m not fighting you for her.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT8ZZGnaCX
“Don’t you dare go near her again!”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp0Qsg2oj0
“Deal,” he said without hesitation.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJcI07JKb9
“Big pervert!” she declared once more, clearly pleased with herself.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAI8euIqtf
Kouya exhaled through his nose. ‘That’s it. This tiny dragon is one insult away from being punted into orbit.’202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxIz6Rt9xr
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRuPzhYO2n
“Give it.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8JDewpm68
“…Give what?”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0UBa31F2f
“I’m hungry,” she said bluntly. “Humans buy food with paper called money. I don’t have any. You give me.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3Se0jeWUy
Kouya blinked slowly. ‘Did this brat just demand tribute from me?’202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8QCl98zqt
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.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfZbRpW2xP
Kouya’s mouth twitched. “Heh.” He chuckled dryly. ‘So this is extortion now.’202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYOLI2ptes
“Biiig~ pervert,” she sang softly, her voice so melodic it was almost cute. Almost.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOxqhRqgdc
Unfortunately, that was the exact moment two policemen happened to be passing by.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejFy6UgL9H
“Did you hear that?” one of them said.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFVe8A3CKU
“Yeah. Sounded like a kid.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBjtyUXsDn
“Let’s check it out.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAsAU6trRN
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMN6hK0omV
“Good evening, mister officers!” she chirped.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXFemc9iA4
Their faces melted into smiles.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrjndHnDIk
“What a cute kid! Is this your sister?”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNCrye1tIS
“Such pretty eyes! Wow, she’s adorable.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEDgA8dQIV
Kouya’s temples throbbed. ‘You fools. That “kid” could wipe this city off the map before you blink.’202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn42JQEGWtE
One officer wagged a finger at him kindly. “You shouldn’t bring your little sister out this late. Get her home safe, alright?”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqf25EkU8m
‘I’m not her brother,’ he thought bitterly, forcing a smile. ‘But sure. Let’s go with that.’202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmytUWmTLdz
The other nodded. “Yeah, it’s dangerous out here. You never know when some drunk idiot might start trouble.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUtwCuGYnj
Kouya nearly laughed. ‘If anyone starts trouble with her, I’ll be the one offering condolences to them.’202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgba06346gz
He lifted a hand sheepishly. “She got hungry. Wanted oden. And if I didn’t buy it…” he sighed, “she might destroy the world.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKKSsNlRIz
The officers blinked, then burst into hearty laughter.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoefrQd8RE
“Haha! That’s what being a good brother is all about!”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3ukc3hbJd
‘Idiots. You have no idea how right I am,’ he thought grimly.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqoGQ43RqS
One of them crouched beside the girl. “What’s your name, little one?”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0ZgzUb61l
She tilted her head. “Kanna. Kanna Kamui.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpymO6zQcHV
“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.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW16i94kp6e
The girl nodded solemnly. “Thank you.”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEdxijv77l
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7B2O9Ivmq
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNtDpXGCka
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDnekLoTOd
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0Aw9Ybn5Q
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR3pR7Ne9v
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