Chapter 3 : Black Dragon Olivia (1)

The fateful meeting of Olivia, the Black Dragon who slew the Demon King, and Dante, the demon realm commoner. After Dante accepted her offer of lifelong servitude, time flowed like a river, and two years had passed in the blink of an eye.

“…Hey, you…”

Scratch.

“Oli…via…”

“[Mmm…]”

Scratch, scratch.

“Olivia! Wake up!”

“[Zzz… Zzz…]”

Crack.

‘Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be, huh?’

A vein throbbed in Dante’s cheek. Taking a deep breath, he braced himself.

One… Two…!

“Yaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! You lazy lizard! Get up this instant!!!?”

Whack!

“[Keuhk!?]”

The dragon’s eyes snapped open. Dante whacked her under the chin—specifically, the reversed scale about a foot in diameter located beneath her neck—with the mop he’d been holding.

The ‘reverse scale.’ Even a dragon, with its impenetrable hide, had a weak point, and this was it. Legend said a dragon would hunt down anyone who touched its reverse scale to the ends of the earth and tear them to shreds…

Whack! Whack, whack! Whack!

…Yeah, not happening.

“Wake up! Wake up, you damn lizard! The sun’s already high in the sky!!”

“[Alright, alright! Just get that blasted mop away from my neck! It hurts like hell!]”

“Good morning, Olivia! Did you sleep well?”

‘…Huh?’

“[…I knew this already, but your sudden mood swings are truly something else, Dante.]”

“Thank you for the compliment!”

“[…Just… I shouldn’t even bother. Good grief.]”

Flap, flap—flap.

“[Mmmmm—]”

Olivia, the Black Dragon, stretched, unfurling her jet-black wings. Dante, perched on her tail, casually cleaning between her scales with the mop, spoke.

“By the way, Olivia, it’s been two whole years since we met. Time flies, huh? My, oh my… It’s been a wild ride, but filled with beautiful da──”

“[Yeah, your salary is still pathetic. Not getting a raise. Don’t try to guilt-trip me.]”

“…That’s why people call you a lizard! Don’t you get it?! A dragon shouldn’t be so stingy!! You’re like, twenty thousand times bigger than everyone else, yet you have the heart of a flea!”

“[Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the only one in the world who calls me a lizard, you gutsy little thing. Heh.]”

Olivia nudged Dante’s stomach with a claw, grinning, sharp teeth glinting.

“[And Dante, why do you need money? You know how much wealth I have. Gold coins are practically tripping hazards in the castle.]”

“?…What are you talking about…? Your wealth has nothing to do with me…?”

‘Is she trying to taunt me?’

“[It has everything to do with you.]”

Her slitted, red eyes narrowed, fixated on Dante. Resting her chin on her claws, she flicked the tip of her tail.

“[──Soon, everything I own will be yours.]”

‘And vice-versa, of course.’

‘…Huh?’

Dante twirled his finger around his ear.

“…Did you eat some poisonous mushrooms yesterday? Or do some drugs? Are you feeling okay? You’ve been spouting nonsense. I’m starting to get worried.”

“[……..You… Just… Forget it…]”

‘What can I expect from someone so dense?’

Olivia smacked her forehead with a claw and sighed.

‘How did I fall for this idiot…?’