IBMOT Chapter 37

Episode 37

 

The children eagerly nodded in agreement with Erina’s words, never missing a chance to tease Mitzu.

“Don’t you even know that, Mitzu? You’re such a fool!”

“Hah, really!”

Mitzu exclaimed in exasperation.

“Could it be that Mitzu is acting like this because he wants to be closer to me?” Erina teased.

“As if!”

“Yeah, me neither.”

Erina replied with a bright smile.

Her sudden use of casual speech made Mitzu’s fingers twitch. At his fingertips, a small red flame flickered.

It was clear that the flame, with just a slight movement, would be directed at Erina.

“Human woman, you’re amusing, aren’t you? Calling me ‘Mitzu’ so casually, running that mouth of yours? Maybe your loose lips need to burn a bit to learn some restraint?”

The clear hostility radiating from Mitzu made cold sweat run down Erina’s back.

She realized she might have been too complacent about their true nature, having only received kindness from Dylan and the children until now.

“Mitzu! Stop it!”

Before Erina could react, Lia dashed toward Mitzu and bit his fingers, clinging to him.

“Ow! Lia! That hurts!”

Unable to bring himself to use magic on the little one, Mitzu yelled and shook his arm, but Lia dangled stubbornly from his hand.

Chaos broke out in the carriage.

Fearing Lia might get hurt, Erina quickly pried her off Mitzu’s arm and held the children close.

“Stop it! They’re just kids!”

“What?! Hey…!”

Mitzu had intended to warn the cheeky human woman, not the little ones. Lia’s sudden interference wasn’t his fault. But somehow, the situation had taken a strange turn.

Erina glared at him as if he were a savage, and the children in her arms shared the same expression.

Mitzu groaned and crossed his arms.

At this point, even a threatening gesture was out of the question—he didn’t know when the feisty little brats might charge at him again.

It was safer to hold back for now.

“Fine, stop glaring. I won’t bother your nanny anymore, happy? She’s scary enough that I can’t say a word.”

“She is not a nanny!”

“Her name is Erina!”

“She’s Erina Mama!”

Watching the triplets vehemently defend her, Mitzu could only chuckle dryly.

 

***

 

Meian Bookstore

The bookstore, as always, was a tiny presence among the lavish shops surrounding it.

Erina entered, the triplets and Mitzu trailing behind her.

“Welcome! Oh, you came right on time!”

“Yes, hello. The kids are really into books, so we came to get some new ones,” Erina replied warmly.

“I see!”

Meian, the bookstore owner, smiled as she watched the children scatter to browse their favorite books.

Erina smiled back.

“The calendar we bought here last time was wonderful. It was so helpful when I followed the dates I marked on it. And the starlight bursts are so dazzling and beautiful!”

“Oh! Isn’t it? That calendar is my creation!”

“Really? That’s amazing! I also loved the mushroom guide you wrote—it was so detailed and enjoyable!”

Erina’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Meian, who, in her eyes, was the smartest and most talented person in the world.

“Hey, human woman.”

A gloomy voice pierced the cheerful atmosphere.

Erina sighed internally as she turned to face Mitzu. She almost looked forward to what nonsense he would spout this time.

“Why are you looking at her with such admiration? It’s just because she’s a halfling.”

“Excuse me…?”

“No matter how much of a halfling she is, her magic and knowledge can’t even be compared to a human’s, right?”

Mitzu directed his question toward Meian.

Meian swallowed nervously. How had he figured it out? 

She examined the red-haired man with the sly grin. She couldn’t recall ever encountering him before.

In her 80 years of life, few had discovered her true identity.

Not even dragons, who tended to ignore her out of their innate arrogance, had recognized her.

She had always avoided staying in one place for too long, and even as a half-blood, her presence as a dragon was so faint that she could live quietly.

But now, this stranger had seen through her.

While staying in the Sylvian Empire, Meian avoided using magic around her bookstore to maintain a quiet existence.

The only time she used magic was to add minor conveniences to the trinkets sold in the shop, which wasn’t considered extraordinary among Sylvian citizens.

“H-How did you…?”

“There are ways. Anyway, let’s talk, shall we?”

Mitzu pointed toward the storage room at the back of the bookstore.

To be honest, if it weren’t for Dylan’s words, even Mitzu wouldn’t have guessed that the bookstore owner was a half-blood.

Her presence was as faint as her shop’s, and her mana levels were below average, even compared to humans.

A half-blood this unimpressive made Mitzu doubt whether she could serve as the information source Dylan sought.

“Human woman! Stay right here. I’ve got something to discuss with the half-blood. Keep an eye on the brats and don’t lose them.”

It was impressive how Mitzu managed to address no one by their proper name.

Erina couldn’t tell if his bizarre behavior was unique to him as a dragon or if Dylan and the children’s kindness was the exception.

Though his attitude irritated her, she could only nod in agreement. She didn’t want to provoke him further and risk the bookstore being reduced to ashes.

Mitzu was proving to be an even bigger headache than the triplets.

“Understood,” she replied obediently.

Mitzu snorted softly, apparently satisfied with her response, before turning his gaze to Meian.

Meian, whose eyes met Mitzu’s, shook her head fearfully.

“I-I don’t know anything…!”

She stammered, her voice trembling.

“Oh? Not coming?”

Showing no regard for her feelings, Mitzu barked at her, his lack of empathy palpable.

“Eek!”

Frightened by his sharp glare, Meian had no choice but to follow Mitzu to the storage room.

Watching Meian’s pitiful retreat, Erina stomped her feet anxiously.

She wanted to check on Meian, but she couldn’t leave the children alone. All she could do was hope Mitzu wouldn’t torment her too much.

Inside the storage room, Mitzu began to scrutinize Meian closely.

His crimson irises shifted size as his gaze moved, examining her from head to toe.

Meian prayed for this dreadful encounter to end quickly. For that to happen, this man needed to either leave or state his business, but several minutes passed with him doing nothing but staring.

Terrified, Meian squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.

“W-What do you want to say to me?!”

“Ugh, so loud.”

Startled by her sudden outburst, Mitzu frowned, his brow twitching in irritation. Meian, flustered, gasped sharply once again.

They hadn’t even begun talking, yet it seemed she was on the verge of fainting.

Irritated, Mitzu ran his hand roughly through his hair and asked bluntly.

“Alright, what are you?”

“I’m Meian!”

“No. I don’t care about your name, half-blood. What’s suppressing your mana?”

“W-What…?”

Mitzu smirked as he observed her face turn from pale to ashen blue.

“How do I know? No matter how weak, a half-blood dragon shouldn’t have less mana than a human.”

“That’s…!”

“I’ll count to three. Speak before I finish. One.”

“Wait…!”

Meian cried, but Mitzu continued counting.

“Two.”

“…!!”

“Thr—”

“My necklace!”

Before he could say ‘three,’ Meian blurted out her secret.