As I stared, transfixed by her long, red hair that fell to her waist, my eyes inevitably drifted up to the two horns on her head.

The shock of seeing those horns only lasted a moment.

Next, my gaze locked onto her golden eyes.

The eyes of a predator.

They were the same as the Serpent Queen's… and Baekrang's.

Predator’s eyes.

And if you asked where my gaze went after that, well, it had to be her attire.

Her clothes were made of some unknown material, beautifully crafted and alluring.

What was even more distracting was how parts of her clothing had open holes, exposing certain areas, making it hard for me to look away.

My eyes roamed over her thighs and calves, only to be drawn once again to one last feature.

Her tail.

And that name, *Red Dragon*.

“You’re staring a little too intensely; it’s making me blush.”

This woman was a dragon.

__________________________
【Red Dragon】

A dragon that controls fire.
It has a habit of nesting in volcanoes and keeping precious items close.
Its temperament is generally calm, but once angered, it will rage until it’s leveled an entire volcano.
It holds the potential to become a true ??, a mid-level dragon species.
__________________________

A Red Dragon, no less.

“Gek…”

It all started to make sense now.

The thunderous noise I’d heard earlier, the presence of killing intent.

And why the Magnosaurus and Fire Rat had come down the mountain.

“The hot springs here really are the best.”

This dragon had claimed the top of the volcano.

Splash.

The Red Dragon swirled her foot in the lava hot spring.

“Normal lava just doesn’t cut it, you know? I had to gather everything I could to make this, but that old geezer got furious about it.”

Gulp.

I swallowed hard.

I’d clearly miscalculated.

In her human-like form, she hadn’t seemed that dangerous.

My instincts were usually accurate, and with my danger-sensing skills, I’d felt safe enough coming up here.

Of course, I’d known she wasn’t ordinary, given her presence on top of the volcano.

Even if she was hiding her power, I felt strong enough to escape if needed.

But that was wrong.

In front of this woman, I couldn’t even hope to run.

“So, you’re that lizard?”

She spoke as if she already knew me, this Red Dragon.

Fortunately, her tone suggested she didn’t mean any harm.

“You have dragon scales, and even dragon blood. Looks like you’re the one. Though, honestly, I could tell just by looking.”

“…Gek?”

“What’s with the ‘gek’ sound? Anyway, you’re that lizard, aren’t you?”

That lizard? What lizard?

Her familiarity suggested some connection to me, but how?

The Serpent Queen hadn’t said anything about me, and Baek Yeon-Yeong had been with me all along.

How did she know about me?

“What, can you not speak?”

“Gekgek.”

Sorry, but I’m not at that level yet.

If you want, I can make gek-gekk noises all day.

“Why can’t a creature of your level speak?”

“Gek?”

Huh?

Judging by her tone, it sounded like I should have been able to speak already.

“It’s not just human language; you don’t even know the language of beasts?”

Wait a minute.

So there’s another language?

It wasn’t that strange, actually.

Baekrang communicated well with her pack, and the Serpent Queen constantly hissed and chatted with her kin, so they must have had their own language.

But me?

“That’s odd. Even young ones would usually learn how to speak.”

The Red Dragon’s eyes narrowed.

“Gek…”

Those slitted pupils focused on me, and I instinctively shrank back.

“There really is something different about you.”

Tap-tap.

She tapped her thigh with her fingers.

Was she telling me to come over?

If I followed my instincts, I’d moonwalk out of here, but if I tried that, I’d end up as roasted lizard.

Slowly, I walked toward her.

Tap-tap.

…You’re the one who called me over.

Following her cue, I rested my head on her thigh.

I briefly worried she might slice off my head, but if that was her intent, she would’ve attacked already.

The warmth of her touch was oddly soothing.

It was different from Baekrang.

“Gek!”

Without realizing it, strange thoughts crossed my mind.

Probably an aftereffect of the recent battle.

Focus.

This was no time for idle thoughts.

“…I did call you over, but don’t you think you’re a little too trusting?”

The Red Dragon placed her hand on my head.

She petted me with just the right amount of pressure.

My eyes started to close on their own.

…

……

“Gekgek!”

She must be trying to use some kind of charm.

There’s no way a lizard of my level could be subdued so easily.

It must be some kind of brainwashing.

“Hm… This is strange. Judging by your scales, you’re young, but the way you keep snuggling into my thigh suggests you’re quite the dark-hearted creature.”

“…Gek?”

“You may look young, but you don’t seem mentally young.”

The Red Dragon’s slitted pupils stared at me.

“You weren’t born here, were you?”

My heart sank.

How did she know?

Even Baek Yeon-Yeong hadn’t realized that.

It was information no one could know unless I told them directly.

Yet this Red Dragon had figured it out instantly.

That I came from another world.

“Don’t worry too much. I’m not from here, either.”

Gulp.

I swallowed dryly once more.

Could she be part of the same community I destroyed?

If so, if she discovered my identity, I’d be shattered in an instant.

I’d unleashed a true abyss back there that even made the Spino Maid look mild.

“Why are you so tense? I’m from the Western Continent, so I don’t care about that stuff. You’re from somewhere else, aren’t you?”

Thankfully, my worries were unfounded.

Her mention of “somewhere else” likely referred to a different region, not another world.

Given that she was a dragon, she must have flown in from the Western Continent rather than being from the Central Plains.

“Gekgek…”

Good, my secret seems safe for now.

…Though that didn’t mean the situation was resolved.

For the time being, I was at the mercy of this Red Dragon.

I might be able to break free with a struggle, but that was my last resort.

In a fight I couldn’t win, fleeing was the best strategy.

For some reason, she didn’t seem inclined to attack, so I’d play along for now.

…Maybe she just wanted a lizard friend?

After all, I’m the kind of lizard that could eventually evolve into a Fire Dragon.

A Fire Dragon would probably be a worthy match for her.

“If we spend time together, I’m sure you’ll learn to speak on your own.”

“Gek?”

That sounds a little irresponsible, don’t you think?

…And what does she mean by “spend time together”?

What’s she planning?

“I’d love to take you back to my nest.”

Grrk.

The Red Dragon’s hand gripped the nape of my neck.

“Geeek…”

It didn’t hurt, but it felt like my strength was draining.

Maybe dragons are technically a type of lizard, because she seemed to know all the right spots.

Just holding me here made my eyes close involuntarily.

“…You’re not fully grown yet, so I wonder if it’s okay to keep you.”

“Gek?”

My eyes shot open.

What are you talking about?

“Geggeggek!”

I let out a cry to emphasize that I was only six months old.

“I’m just kidding, I’m kidding.”

Phew.

She has more humor than I expected.

“Anyway, that girl wouldn’t stay quiet if I did.”

“Gek?”

“Even getting in here was a challenge.”

Who could a creature of this level be wary of?

Baekrang?

The Serpent Queen?

Or perhaps someone even stronger?

“Well, technically, I’ve been here longer, but she treats me like this just because she’s stronger.”

Baek Yeon-Yeong.

This Red Dragon was acquainted with my master.

Why didn’t she mention that sooner?

Here I was, thinking I’d run into some strange person, but it turns out she’s just a tutor Baek Yeon-Yeong enlisted?

Someone who knows Baek Yeon-Yeong’s power wouldn’t dare mess with me.

And as a dragon, she could probably help with the Dragon Gate trial too.

…Though would Baek Yeon-Yeong really bring in another mentor?

In martial arts stories, don’t most disciples only have one master?

Maybe some people have more than one, but with my master’s personality, she didn’t seem like the type to allow someone else.

“Still, raising you up and eating you in the end wouldn’t be a bad idea, right?”

“Geeeeeek!”

Just as I was about to flail, a powerful fire aura pressed against my face.

She’s a terrifying woman.

To think she knew exactly how to subdue a Komodo-Lania.

The intense fire aura left me breathless.

“Yay, I got myself a handsome lizard with cool scales.”

The Red Dragon made a peace sign with her fingers.

At the moment, I was just a lizard that had wandered into a dragon’s lair.

If I wanted to survive, I’d need to find

 a way out.

So soft…

…Maybe I’ll stay a little longer?

I might as well learn what I can from her while I’m here.

---

Baekrang couldn’t hide her growing anxiety.

It had been a long time since that lizard challenged the Dragon Gate trial.

Yet, he still hadn’t returned.

It couldn’t be that he lost – he must have simply left.

“Kiiing…”

The wolves whimpered as they looked around for him.

The lizard was going to leave eventually.

He’d sought her out for the Dragon Gate trial, and she’d accompanied him for the sake of her territory.

She’d received what she needed, and given what she could.

Their relationship was over now.

“…What’s so special about a lizard without fur?”

Baekrang muttered quietly.

Whether she was speaking to the wolf pack or herself, no one knew.

“I’m glad he’s gone. It was too cramped with him around.”

She’d often curled up beside him to sleep.

With his massive body, there was no choice but to be close.

“Now there’s so much space.”

She didn’t need to do that anymore.

The space where the lizard had been was now wide open.

“…This is why you don’t get attached.”

“Krrr…”

Chilrang came over to her side.

“He’s already gone.”

“Kiiing…”

Chilrang gazed at Baekrang with sad eyes.

There was no reason to hold on to that lizard.

Still…

Leaving without a word was a bit much, wasn’t it?

Baekrang pondered.

The lizard she knew would have at least stopped by before leaving.

Could it be that he’d lost to the Fire Rat?

That didn’t seem likely.

The lizard she knew was strong.

“…Right. Maybe he was injured fighting the Fire Rat.”

She murmured to herself as if making excuses.

“If I help him heal, he’d owe me a huge debt. …He’s a good hunter, so keeping him around wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“Awooo…”

Chilrang rubbed up against her, looking pleased.

Baekrang rose to her feet.

This was for her pack.

Not because she missed him.

It was reckless to climb the volcano without knowing if he was there, but it was for her pack.

It was something she had to do as their leader.

That’s what she told herself.

But it was a flimsy excuse, one that might crumble at any moment.