Chapter 7 : Black Dragon Olivia (5)

Whooooosh!

Blue flames billowed from Olivia’s mouth. Dante, aghast, yelled, “Stop! Stop the breath attack right now!? What are you doing!?”

“[I’m going to wipe this place off the map.]”

“Don’t say such terrifying things so casually!? The emperor’s a jerk, but the innocent citizens don’t deserve this!!”

“[Being that emperor’s citizen is their crime.]”

“You stubborn dragon!!!!”

If this continued, the Achaian Empire would be reduced to ashes, literally erased from existence.

“Ugh… This is my life…”

Dante resorted to his last, desperate measure. He crossed his arms, puffed out his cheeks, and put on a slightly sulky expression.

“Olivia!”

“[Stop calling my name, you idiot! Can’t you see the flames in my mouth!? It’s hard to talk!]”

Dante dropped his bomb.

“If you keep this up… I… I’ll hate you!”

“[…Huh?]”

As if by magic, the raging flames vanished.

“I’ll never speak to you again! I won’t even look at you! …I’ll… I’ll quit and go work for another dragon!”

“[Another dragon? Who?]”

Olivia’s voice dropped, colder than before. Her red eyes glowed ominously.

“Uh…?”

‘That’s not what I expected!’ He’d stopped the breath attack, but he’d created a bigger problem.

How could he know another dragon? He’d just blurted it out!

“…Sorry, I misspoke. That was a mistake.”

“[Don’t play coy. Tell me. Which dragon? Who are you going to work for?]”

Olivia poked Dante in the stomach with the tip of her claw.

“Oof…”

“[Who is it? Huh? Who? Who have you been meeting behind my back!! Which dragon dared to approach you?!]”

“I told you I misspoke! How would I know another dragon?! And what do you mean, ‘meeting behind your back’? I’ve been by your side 24/7 since I started working for you! Even when you’re sleeping! How could I possibly meet anyone else!?”

Fuming, Dante picked up a handful of pebbles and hurled them at her.

“[…Now that you mention it…]”

“Right?”

“[No other dragon would tolerate your insufferable personality without killing you.]”

He’d have been squashed flat if he’d met another dragon.

“[…You really misspoke?]”

“Do I have to tattoo it on my forehead?! Believe me already!”

“[…Fine.]” Olivia nodded. “[──Even if you did, I’d just steal you back.]”

“Be honest, you hate me, don’t you?! That’s why you don’t believe me!”

“[Quite the opposite, my dear, infuriating s*ave.]”

“Ugh…”

She grinned and extended her hand. “[Come on, let’s go home.]”

“…You’re not going to burn anything down, are you?”

“[You told me not to. Why, do you miss it? Want me to torch the place anyway?]”

“…Let’s just go home.”

Olivia lifted him onto her head. Her massive, membranous wings unfurled.

Thump!

She launched herself into the air.

Rumble!

The already damaged palace completely collapsed, but neither Dante nor Olivia spared a glance for the Achaian Empire as they soared away.

High above the ground, the black dragon glided effortlessly through the air.

“…Olivia.”

“[What?]”

“Thank you.”

──For saving me.

“Thank you so much.”

“[…Ahem.]” She coughed, feigning embarrassment. “[If you’re that grateful… I suppose I could let you repay me… physically?]”

“…I’m already repaying you physically! How much more do you want from me?!”

“[Not that kind of physical labor, you idiot!]”

“Then what kind!?”

Olivia smacked her forehead. What was she supposed to do with this blockhead?

“[…Forget it. I shouldn’t expect anything from you.]”

“Why are you always talking to yourself?”

“[Shut up. Or I’ll eat you.]”

‘Later, in bed.’

“Huh? What do you m──”

Olivia, with a mischievous glint in her eye, suddenly performed a barrel roll in the air.

“…Whoa!!”