Chapter 19 : On the brink (6)

“Here you go, Dante.”

“Th-thank you…”

Olivia giggled as she plucked a small, heart-shaped scale from her tail and placed it in Dante’s palm.

In contrast, Dante’s expression was gradually deteriorating.

He looked like a worn-out office worker in his forties, burdened by life.

Well, he got the scale, so now the question was how to carry it around… Hmm…

He couldn’t just toss it into his pocket, after all.

“A necklace would be best, right?”

“A necklace? Ah, you’re thinking of turning it into an accessory?”

“Yeah… something like that…”

Hearing his murmured thoughts, Olivia gently tugged him toward her by the shoulder, wearing a mischievous yet amused smile.

Trying to imprint her mark on himself without being told—how adorable of her little s*ave!

“Hmph. If that’s what you want, I’ll just make you an artifact.”

She plucked a single strand of her long hair, then picked up the scale from Dante’s hand and clasped it with both of hers.

To create a special ornament using the finest materials no ordinary human could even dream of—
A living dragon’s scale and a dragon’s mane.

After all, it was a gift for someone she loved.

Turning her palms gently, Olivia whispered under her breath.

“【Merge】”

Among all things, dragons were a race most gifted in magic.

Their raw physical prowess, insane strength, and the terrifying Dragon Breath capable of wiping out an entire nation in one blow—yet what humans feared most was their immense magical power.

From the moment they hatch, dragons naturally breathe in and out mana—either healing or accumulating it within themselves.

If a short-tempered dragon decided to throw a fire spell at the human empire just because it was annoyed, that place would be gone in an instant. Gone.

A dark light shimmered between her fingers—Saaat!—before slowly fading away.

As Olivia opened her hands,

“…Wow.”

“Hehe.”

A perfectly polished scale necklace lay in her palm.

Dante tilted his head in awe, genuinely amazed.

Olivia chuckled softly and spoke with a light tone.

“Come here. I’ll put it on for you.”

“No, it’s fine. I can do that myse—”

“Not interested, then?”

“—I mean, I probably can’t. So I’ll gladly accept the offer.”

Dante raised his head slightly.

Before he realized it, Olivia leaned in, slipping her arms around the back of his neck like a skilled angler reeling in a fish.

“?!”

“──Stay still.”

Whispering close to his ear, she tightly looped her pale arms around his neck.

Her slender touch slithered around him like a snake crawling up his body, sending shivers down his spine.

Hang in there. Just endure this! This too shall pass…!

Dante already knew the mischievous black dragon’s true intention.

Ah, this damned lizard’s just messing with me again. Of course.

Seriously… How am I supposed to live like this?

Click.

“There. All done.”

The moment he heard the necklace clasp snap shut, Dante leapt back with a start and clutched at his now flushed neck.

He could still feel the warmth of Olivia’s breath lingering.

Narrowing his golden eyes, she watched him quietly as he tried to catch his breath.

“You… You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!”

“What are you even talking about, dumb*ss?”

Feigning ignorance with a shrug, she smoothly changed the topic.
“Anyway, it looks really good on you.”

(Dante: takes emotional damage)

***

And just like that, time passed once more, flowing like water until another exhausting day came to an end.

The cold air wrapped around them, the sky now fully blue.

Having spent the entire day in her room, clinging to Dante under the excuse of “the necklace,” Olivia glanced out the window and smiled slyly as she turned to him.

Right, the sun’s already down, huh?

“───Dante, you’ll have to sleep with me tonight.”

“I refuse.”

“I refuse your refusal.”

“Then I refuse your refusal of my refusal.”

“Stop this cringe loop, you bastard!!”

“Who the hell do you think started it?!”

Dante shouted, looking absolutely done with everything.

“I mean, come on! I already spent the whole day sticking to you like glue as payment for the necklace! And now you’re telling me we have to sleep together? That wasn’t part of the deal!”

This negotiation is falling apart!

“Now that I think about it, maybe it does make sense. Screw it, let’s just sleep!”

“Wow, the way you flipped your stance is so damn pathetic!”

“Mind your own business!!”

Honestly, it was easier to just pay off the “necklace debt” now and get it over with, than keep dealing with Olivia grilling him every time about “which slutty b*tch” he ran into this time.

Whatever. He’d just sleep beside her like last time.

Seriously, what’s the worst that could happen?

“Hmm… In that case, I’ll go to my room real quick and grab my pajamas and—”

“──Why’s a s*ave using so many words to talk back to his master? Don’t make me wait.”

Thump!

Before Dante could finish, Olivia threw herself onto the bed, extending one arm toward him like it was a pillow, her expression playful and teasing.

Her voice oozed mischief.

“Since you’ve made up your mind, shut up and hurry up. Get in my arms, dumbass.”

What’s the worst that could… happen…?

The red eyes of the infamous, chaotic, unapologetic black dragon sparkled dangerously.