Chapter 34: The Ice Dragon Clan is Just That Smart!

The beautiful silver dragon, awakening from a deep slumber, opened her eyes and released all her long-pent-up dullness with a heaven-shaking dragon’s roar.

ROAR—

The Frozen Holy Temple atop the ten-thousand-year-old snowy mountain trembled lightly beneath the sheer presence of its monarch, as wind and snow howled around the silver dragon.

“Ngh, I slept for so long. So tired.”

Having vented her stress, the dragon reverted to her human form.

Her silver hair was tied in a low ponytail that draped over her flat chest. She wore a gorgeous royal dress, her beauty incomparable to that of ordinary humans. But with her cute, half-lidded silver eyes and sleepy expression, “cute” was far more fitting than “beautiful.”

“Mmmph~ Feels like… I was sealed for a long time. Almost a hundred years, right?”

Her childish voice matched her petite appearance perfectly.

This was Filin, the previous Ice Dragon King—and Fiora’s biological mother.

Aside from a slight difference in their voices, mother and daughter were like two peas in a pod. If the two silver-haired lolis appeared together before an outsider, it would be impossible to tell which was the mother and which was the daughter. In fact, they looked more like twin sisters than parent and child. The genes of the Ice Dragon Clan were, in a sense, formidable.

Filin stretched, joints stiff and aching after her century-long seal. Even walking felt like moving a body that had rusted over. Still, she made her way toward the center of the Frozen Holy Temple.

“During my absence, Fiora must have taken my place and managed the Ice Dragon Clan exceptionally well, right?”

Her steps quickened as anticipation swelled in her chest. She pictured the scene awaiting her beyond the great doors—

The Ice Dragon King seated upon her throne, regal and dignified, listening as her clansmen reported on matters of the realm. Subjects praising her daughter’s wisdom and leadership. Stories of how she had led the clan to prosperity.

Although Fiora seemed a bit clumsy, Filin knew her daughter possessed astonishing potential. As long as she applied herself, she could grow into a rare and exceptional monarch.

Placing her small palm on the massive temple doors, Filin pushed them open with all her strength—

The expectant smile on her face froze.

The once-proud Frozen Holy Temple was now dilapidated and desolate. A massive hole gaped in the wall, one of the main pillars had collapsed, and half of the grand structure lay in ruins.

“My great Ice Dragon Clan… has fallen?”

Filin blinked, wondering if she was still groggy from sleep… or hallucinating. She rubbed her eyes.

The current Ice Dragon King—her daughter Fiora—was nowhere to be seen. Not a single clan member remained. The place was a ghostly ruin.

The scene didn’t change.

“Fiora… that idiot daughter!!”

Veins popped along Filin’s forehead. She punched the great doors in a burst of fury, shattering the sturdy wood into pieces despite her small frame.

“Lady Fiora?”

The voice came from behind her. Filin turned and saw a familiar old man.

“Mellen?”

“Hm…? You don’t seem to be Lady Fiora. Could it be—Lady Filin!!”

Recognition lit the old butler’s eyes, tears of joy welling up as they streamed down his wrinkled cheeks.

“Lady Filin, where have you been? You have no idea how, after you abandoned us, the Ice Dragon Clan was turned into this state by a good-for-nothing freeloader… ah, no, by Lady Fiora.”

Mellen quickly summarized the situation.

Filin’s expression darkened with every word. Right now, she really wanted to give her daughter a sound beating.

“By the way… why did you abandon us back then?” Mellen asked cautiously.

At that, Filin’s face stiffened. The truth was… difficult to explain—and still made her seethe with anger.

Back then, she had decided to undergo the Ice Dragon King’s Inheritance Trial. But she failed, suffering a backlash that sealed her away for nearly a hundred years.

And the reason for that failure… was ridiculous.

She had clearly instructed her daughter not to disturb her unless it was a life-or-death emergency. But just as the inheritance reached its most crucial point, Fiora burst in—face streaked with terrified tears.

Filin’s heart nearly stopped. She thought something terrible had happened.

But then Fiora cried out, “Mother, help me! I’m bleeding down there and it won’t stop! Am I going to die?!”

Filin’s mind instantly exploded from her daughter’s sheer stupidity, the shock breaking her focus and causing the trial to fail—along with the backlash that sealed her.

Before being sealed, she had even repeatedly told Fiora to manage the Ice Dragon Clan well in her absence.

And the result… was this.

“Mellen, I was sealed. It was the consequence of failing the Inheritance Trial. Don’t ask for details. The most important thing now is how to restore the Ice Dragon Clan.”

The lands of the Nolan Continent were ruled by four Dragon Kings, each responsible for governing their own territories as proof of loyalty to the Dragon God. Neglecting this duty would anger the supreme ruler of dragonkind—and invite dire consequences.

“Yes, Lady Filin!” Mellen bowed.

Filin paced back and forth, stroking her chin as she tried to think of a way to turn things around. During her absence, the clan had grown dangerously weak. They needed to recover—fast.

“By the way, Mellen… didn’t you say Fiora was taken away by the legendary Sword Saint, Leon?”

“Yes, as I said, Lady Fiora is currently with Leon. He claimed he was very fond of her and wished to protect her for the rest of his life.” Mellen lowered his head. “I knew I would be blamed for this.”

“Mellen, you—”

“I apologize, Lady Filin. It was a helpless measure. I had no better choice at the time, so…”

“It’s fine.”

“…Huh?” Mellen blinked, thinking he had misheard. Filin didn’t look angry at all.

“Fiora’s personality is hopelessly awful, and she even has a slight tendency toward liking the same s*x. I honestly thought she’d never get married, but I never expected a plot twist straight out of a manga to happen.”

“Lady Filin, that may be so, but Lady Fiora doesn’t seem to like Leon very much.”

“Mellen, I know. But this is still a rare opportunity,” Filin said. “Fiora talks about beautiful girls all day. For a girl who was on the verge of turning gay, how can we just let go of a chance for her to finally get married?”

“But—”

Filin raised her hand, cutting him off. “My mind is made up.”

“…Very well, Lady Filin. What do you plan to do?”

Hmph hmph hmph…! “Of course, this king will personally take action! Don’t forget, I look exactly like that idiot daughter of mine. Outsiders can’t tell us apart at all.”

“Could it be… you mean to—?”

“You get it, don’t you? I’ll take Fiora’s place to test my future son-in-law. If he’s worthy, I’ll matchmake them and have him marry into our Ice Dragon Clan! After all, when it comes to love, that idiot daughter of mine is completely hopeless.”

Filin patted her flat chest with smug confidence.

This overly self-assured posture… looked far too familiar.

The corner of Mellen’s mouth twitched. Indeed… Fiora is truly Filin’s biological daughter.