Even though I had become an infant and was slower, I could still sense the presence of others in the room.
I still had my mana, even if it was inconvenient to use.
And there were definitely two other people here besides me.
One was Delight, and the other…
It wouldn’t be this tense if it were just a chamberlain or an assistant.
‘There really is an intruder, huh?’
This can’t be real. How did someone get in here?
How lax is the security?
Still, I wasn’t too worried.
Delight isn’t someone who would get taken down easily. He should handle it quickly.
……
‘Why isn’t he back yet?’
I thought he would deal with it swiftly and return.
There were no sounds of clashing swords or anything falling, and he still hadn’t come back.
Is the confrontation taking longer than expected?
Is the intruder really giving Delight a hard time?
Wasn’t he supposed to be insanely strong?
Who is it?
I want to see the face of the person daring to target my disciple.
I tried to lift my head and get up… but collapsed back onto the bed.
Right, I can’t move as I please.
I was still far from being able to walk.
‘Darn it, this is frustrating!’
No matter how much I squirmed, I couldn’t get off the bed.
Ugh. At least let me get to the edge of the bed.
Squirm, squirm.
I forced my short limbs to move…
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see what was happening.
Surely, my disciple won’t get hurt.
I don’t know all the details of how he managed to establish an empire after I died.
However, new countries did spring up from time to time while I was alive.
Many kingdoms emerged, and occasionally there were those that called themselves empires, but few lasted even 30 years.
Most didn’t even last that long.
‘It’s always harder to maintain something than to create it.’
One of the simplest ways to bring down a country is to assassinate the emperor.
If the emperor dies before a successor is established and the system is properly set, the country will inevitably collapse.
If Delight dies here… what will happen to me?
‘No, he can’t die!’
I snapped to attention.
‘If he dies, I won’t let it go!’
I lay flat on the bed, focusing on the faint sounds.
“Get lost. If you don’t want to die.”
“It’s been a while, and you’re still the same. So welcoming.”
Despite Delight’s menacing warning, the intruder didn’t seem nervous and was even making jokes.
Who could possibly remain calm in front of the Emperor of the Promian Empire?
The more I listened, the stranger their conversation seemed.
“I came because I wanted to see you.”
Unlike my disciple, who was on edge, the intruder seemed relaxed.
“Where’s the baby? In the bed?”
Is he interested in me?
“Don’t even think about it. You have no right to see her.”
“Hmm. Do you really think it’ll go your way? I almost came alone to see her, but I waited for you so you wouldn’t get upset.”
What? Am I his target?
Who is this? I’m curious. I wish he would come closer so I could see his face.
“Get lost.”
“No.”
The conversation kept going, and Delight’s tone seemed to become increasingly childish.
“The more you tell me to leave, the more I want to stay. Why is that? Maybe I’ve lived too long and gotten twisted.”
That irritating, familiar, mocking tone… it sounds so familiar. I think I can remember.
Ugh. This is driving me crazy!
I strained my neck to see… but it flopped back down.
‘I want to grow up quickly.’
Just as I was giving up in frustration, a face suddenly came into view.
“Hello, baby.”
A face pushed past my disciple and came closer. Shining silver hair fell softly and was brushed behind an ear, revealing a hidden red eye.
‘It really is you!’
No wonder the conversation felt familiar. The one Delight had been confronting as if to kill was none other than the only being I interacted with and called a friend while I was alive: the dragon Luciel.
It’s been a long time!
But why did you sneak in and scare me like an intruder?
I didn’t expect to meet you like this, but I’m glad. There are so many things I wanted to ask you.
At least you were nearby. That’s a relief… I think.
“How dare you come here!”
Delight pushed Luciel aside, blocking his view of me.
‘Why have you fallen out with Delight?’
To be exact, it seemed like Delight had a lot of one-sided animosity.
Haven’t you been around him all this time?
You didn’t come with bad intentions, did you?
“If you get any closer to the baby, I won’t hold back.”
Delight considered Luciel’s approach to me dangerous. It seemed their relationship had soured significantly.
Delight never really liked Luciel, but he used to tolerate Luciel’s affections even if he pretended to be annoyed. Now, he treated Luciel like a mortal enemy.
‘Luciel, what happened while I was gone?’
I trusted you with the first request I ever made.
‘Anyway, keep an eye on things occasionally. If my disciple can’t handle something, lend him a hand.’
‘Are you seriously asking me this bothersome favor?’
‘You like him too.’
‘Haha. Alright. I wouldn’t mind having you owe me one.’
‘Do that.’
Even though he’s a troublesome disciple, I spent ten years with him. I thought I’d made the request in case I ever needed an excuse to visit. Luciel visited my mountain a few times but never mentioned anything.
I thought everything was fine… I hope you didn’t torment him instead of helping.
‘What did you do to make him hate you so much?’
Ugh, this is frustrating!
I can’t even properly question you in this form!
The atmosphere grew even more tense as Luciel ignored Delight’s warning and continued approaching me.
I was worried something might happen, but Luciel just stared at me meaningfully.
“……….”
Why are you staring at me like that? You can’t possibly recognize me, right?
Then Luciel smirked and pointed at me.
“The baby.”
“…………?”
“Was it always sleeping like that?”
“What nonsense are you spouting now…?”
Delight turned to shield me from Luciel and froze.
“…………?”
Why are you looking at me like that, shocked? Did something happen?
“Oh my god.”
He covered his mouth and trembled.
What’s wrong with me?
I braced myself as I waited.
“Did it just…. roll over?”
‘Huh?’
“Right? Just a moment ago, it was lying on its back.”
Now that I think about it… my belly was touching the bed. When I woke up, I was staring at the ceiling.
‘What happened?’
I tried to crawl around earlier, and I must have rolled over then.
“…Can you try doing it again?”
Why is Delight looking at me so expectantly? I felt rebellious and turned my head away.
Then.
“Ollia. Come on?”
He called my name in a ridiculous, whiny voice.
‘That just gave me chills…’
I glanced back at Delight, who was still looking at me with hopeful eyes. He wouldn’t give up until I tried.
‘Master, just once, please?’
‘No, I won’t.’
‘Oh, come on! That’s mean!’
Whenever I firmly refused, his pitiful look would turn into a glare.
“…………”
Why are these unnecessary memories coming back now?
His expression when asking for something hasn’t changed.
Ugh.
‘This is not because of my troublesome disciple’s request.’
I was curious if I could do it again since it happened by accident.
Just to satisfy my curiosity!
Gritting my teeth, I twisted my body.
“Oh…….!”
“Wow.”
Amazing. I rolled over again?
