What Does That Evil Dragon Live For?

“It was a very carefully maintained garden. It was fun to see unique plants growing wherever I looked.”

 

“Ahaha! I am honored to have been able to give you some joy.”

 

Malek sat down, smiling warmly as always at Rubaine, who seemed to be rubbing his hands together.

 

“Anyway, I wonder if you put extra effort into taking care of the mansion and garden just because we came.”

 

“Oh, no. The garden is maintained in the same way every year, and the mansion has not been significantly modified. So don’t worry.”

 

“Still, it seems like you’ve been doing this and that in the last ten days?”

 

“This is the kind of management we have always done. So don’t feel pressured, Your Majesty.”

 

Rubain praised Abel as a true monarch who even considers the circumstances of his subjects, but that was not the answer Malek wanted.

 

‘Something must have happened in the past 10 days.…I didn’t think a better answer would come from Rubaine.’

 

Instead, he looked at Martin, who looked very excited that the prince had come to his house.

 

‘L’Arch Newt is so quick-witted that he is dangerous. But if it’s Martin Newt, hmm…he looks stupid.’ 

 

He smiled at Martin as the tea time came to an end while listening to Rubain or others.

 

“Is your name Martin? I see L’Arch often, but it seems like it’s been a while since I saw Martin. How are you?”

 

“Yes, yes! That’s right. I’m honored that you remember me.”

 

Martin seemed thrilled that his name was called instead of L’Arch.

 

“Can I ask Martin to show me around the mansion? We are the same age, so I think we can talk well.”

 

“Oh, of course! I will guide you!”

 

No one thought it strange that Abel had appointed Martin to guide him through the mansion. Malek had intended Abel to be seen as a friendly and affectionate prince, so this only served to highlight Abel’s meticulous affection for him.

 

Due to the unexpected luck, Martin was very nervous and went around the mansion to a place he could be proud of and did his best to explain.

 

And Malek, who was listening to his explanation while lightly nodding his head, broke the small talk in a corner of the second floor and asked.

 

“Have you noticed any changes in the mansion since this month?”

 

“yes? This month?”

 

“Yes. The garden was tended to, or has anyone come and gone, or has anyone sold something in the house.…”

 

“Oh, no. That didn’t happen.”

 

Malek became more and more impatient with Martin’s attitude, which seemed like he was not lying.

 

“No one has ever left the mansion?”

 

“No…Oh, if I must mention, my cousin joined the temple as a saint. Other than that…”

 

“Cousin? Oh, that kid….”

 

Most people in social circles knew about the ‘Newt stain’. However, everyone knew that it would be rude to mention it in detail, so they usually just referred to it as ‘that kid.’ 

 

Martin averted his gaze as if even that was shameful.

 

“Originally, Damon was scheduled to join the temple, but due to circumstances, my cousin was admitted as a member of this generation. It’s not something your highness should be concerned about.”

 

“I see. But maybe…Was there any jewelry allowed for that child?”

 

“What? It can’t be!”

 

Martin shook his head, saying it was nonsense. He could have been puzzled by the sudden question, but he lowered his voice and muttered, perhaps because he was trying to get a little closer to the prince.

 

“Actually, my grandfather said he entrusted one of our family heirlooms to his mother. So my father searched her room periodically to look for it, but he couldn’t find anything.”

 

“What kind of heirloom…?”

 

“I think it was called a dragon magic stone. Handing over family heirlooms to someone of low blood meant that my grandfather was senile in his old age.”

 

“aha! That is the dragon magic stone that was said to have been lost.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“it’s nothing.”

 

Malek grinned and changed the subject, and Martin quickly became distracted by it.

 

He was lost in his thoughts, listening to Martin’s instructions.

 

‘I think I know why the eldest son of this family controlled his father’s mouth.’ 

 

The fact that the Dragon Magic Stone, which had been passed down as an heirloom of the Count’s family, was passed on to an illegitimate son was something that L’Arch, who had great pride, could see as a shame to his family. He couldn’t even get it back.

 

‘It looks like that kid hid the dragon magic stone well, right?’ 

 

It was clear that the dragon energy he felt was the dragon magic stone.

 

However, Count Newt said that no matter how much he searched, he could not find the Dragon Magic Stone, and when the child left the mansion, the energy of the Dragon Magic Stone also disappeared.

 

‘If so, it means that the child hid the dragon magic stone somewhere in this mansion, not in her room, and secretly took it with her when she entered the temple.’

 

If so, the sudden disappearance of the dragon’s energy could also be explained. It was clear that the magical power of the dragon magic stone that the child possessed could not escape from the divine power barrier surrounding the temple.

 

‘Good good. It seems like the whereabouts of the dragon magic stone have been secured.’ 

 

Malek returned to Sasha’s side with a satisfied smile, and Sasha knew just by looking at the change in his expression that Malek had achieved what he wanted.

 

Thanks to that, the day was able to end very amicably.

 

* * * 

 

After Elaine entered the temple, peaceful days continued for a while.

 

This is because all the saints who had just entered the temple were very busy, so It was difficult to look at each other, and it was difficult for saints who had just debuted in the social world or had not even debuted to know who the other person was just by looking at their faces.

 

Still, it wouldn’t take long for the rumor to spread that Elaine was a ‘Newt stain’, but Elaine was enjoying that brief period of peace to the fullest.

 

Starting today, Elaine’s favorite ‘Catechism’ class began.

 

TL: Catechism Is a simple study in the form of questions and answers regarding Christian teachings and doctrines originating from the Bible.

 

It was a class where she could receive a scholarship if she placed in the top three, but she liked it even more because the catechism teacher didn’t discriminate against the saints based on their families or origins.

 

Elaine entered the classroom early, sat down, and carefully looked at the class materials. 

 

For some reason, she felt a vague sense of nostalgia.

 

At that time, the girl who arrived at the classroom for the second time approached hesitantly. Elaine smiled brightly at her and gave her greeting.

 

“hi.”

 

“Uh, huh! hi?”

 

Of course, it was a familiar face.

 

Although she didn’t directly bully Elaine, she was an ordinary girl who sympathized with Lorina and her group to avoid being ignored.

 

That was the attitude of most saints, so Elaine didn’t feel too much resentment.

 

Anyway, as it was her first time receiving a friendly greeting in an unfamiliar environment, she quickly developed a crush on Elaine.

 

“My name is Sarah. Sarah Dyke. you?”

 

“I’m Elaine…Newt.”

 

“Newt? Count Newt’s…?”

 

Sarah asked back with a slightly surprised expression.

 

That’s right, the last name ‘Newt’ was at least not a name that would be looked down upon anywhere.

 

It had a long tradition, and the wealth it had accumulated was enormous thanks to the success of the large-scale businesses launched by its ancestors several generations ago.

 

She was pretty far ahead in the list of nobles, so if Elaine was truly a member of the Newt family, she would have been treated well anywhere.

 

But for now, that family name was a noose around her neck.

 

‘If possible, I did not want to reveal my family origin, but I had no choice because I would have been criticized if I kept my mouth shut while the other person revealed it first.’

 

“Uh…Count Newt is my uncle.”

 

“ah! I heard about it. It is said that Count Newt’s family sent a relative to the temple this time, rather than a direct descendant. Why is that?”

 

“There are some circumstances.”

 

Elaine just smiled.

 

Seeing that Sarah was asking about the Newt family’s circumstances, it seems that she didn’t know about the ‘Newt family stain’ from the beginning. She will probably find out soon enough.

 

Just as she was finishing up her conversation with Sera, soon other saints began to come in and fill the place.

 

Elaine looked back to her book while Sera was distracted and pretended not to notice the other saints. Also, she didn’t want to reveal her identity by exchanging greetings like that.

 

‘What are you doing, Rabes?’ 

 

Unfortunately, Rabes decided to move separately today.

 

Rabes disappeared in the morning, saying he had to look into the barrier of this temple, but Elaine felt a little empty when Rabes, who was always next to her, disappeared.

 

But there was no fear.

 

[If you’re in a hurry, cast the ‘Rekuro’ spell. I’ll come right away. I can’t use my magic properly, but I can protect you enough.] 

 

Rabes repeatedly urged Elaine to call him when she was in danger.

 

‘It was truly reassuring to know that there was someone who would come running right away when I called.’

 

‘Yeah, I’m not scared. I’m not alone.’ 

 

Elaine took a deep breath and raised her head.

 

When most of the saints had found their seats and sat down, Priest Daniel, the teacher of the catechism class, came up to the podium.

 

He was quite strict and principled, so he was not very popular, but he was an easy-going person for Elaine.

 

Daniel first called the attendance list and checked the faces of the members, then looked around the class and began the introduction to the class.

 

“It’s our first class. Let’s start with a light question.”

 

It was obvious that the saints members were already nervous as he spoke slowly but without any smile.

 

“Who created this world?”

 

“Lord Bara made it!”

 

When a question came up that was easier than the one they were nervous about, everyone slowly lowered their stiff shoulders and answered loudly.

 

It was great to hear the voices of boys and girls between the ages of fifteen and seventeen answering like a chorus.

 

“How do you know that?”

 

“It’s in the scriptures!”

 

“Because the scriptures are the words of Bara!”

 

It seemed like everyone had received good religious education at home before joining the temple.

 

“Then, are there any saints who memorize the information about how Lord Bara created this world?”

 

In response to that question, most people kept their mouths shut and avoided looking at Daniel. 

 

Some who were muttering without confidence also quietly lowered their heads to their books, as if they had not memorized it all the way to the end.

 

* * *