What Does That Evil Dragon Live For?

“She’ll probably try to trouble me again soon. It seems like things from my past life almost always happen the same way.”

 

[Ho, then what are you going to do?] 

 

“Hmm, I don’t really care.”

 

[Well, what do you have to worry about when I’m next to you? Are you slowly realizing my greatness?] 

 

“haha, right.”

 

Rabes ooked proud and tapped Elaine on the head with the tip of his tail, and Elaine laughed nervously.

 

In fact, the reason Elaine didn’t think anything of it was because the bullying she suffered during her first year at Temple was not a big deal.

 

‘It was painful in the past, but now I can just say it’s a child’s joke.’ 

 

Of course, as the years went by, the bullying became more intense and persistent. At times, she got to the point where she thought, ‘Maybe they’re trying to make me commit suicide?’  

 

‘But anyway, this year is okay. And since everything was different from the past, it wouldn’t be as painful as it was then.’

 

With that in mind, Elaine leisurely headed to the dining room, and the whole time, the temple members were glancing at Elaine and whispering among themselves.

 

Rabes flew over to them, circled around, and sat down on Elaine’s shoulder again, smirking.

 

[Humans are so funny. They think they are something special, but they are not that different from other animals.] 

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

[Do you know what those guys are whispering about?] 

 

“Weren’t they cursing at me?”

 

[She was considering you and that girl named Lorina. Since you go out so shamelessly, it seems like she thinks there’s a huge ally behind you.] 

 

“Phew!”

 

Elaine was afraid that others would notice, so she quickly covered her mouth and burst into laughter.

 

Laves also chuckled and said.

 

[How is this any different from animals trying to crawl under a strong leader? What’s different about doing this from a young age?] 

 

“That’s right.”

 

Elaine entered the dining room with a relaxed expression and a smile on her face.

 

Once again, everyone’s eyes turned to Elaine and then slowly moved to Lorina.

 

Lorina was sitting at a table with her group of followers, glaring at Elaine.

 

Anyway, after Elaine received her meal, she approached the table where there were few people.

 

Then a girl sitting there put her handkerchief on the table in front of Elaine and said, “There is someone who decided to sit here.”

 

Elaine glanced at the handkerchief and smiled.

 

‘There was no difference from my memories of my previous life.’

 

This type of harassment began a few days after Lorina revealed Elaine’s true identity during her catechism class.

 

No one wanted to sit with Elaine, and they deliberately kicked her out and humiliated her.

 

Although this time was a little different, the same thing was happening over and over again.

 

‘Is there no place else?’ 

 

Elaine headed to the empty table in the far corner without even giving the girl a glance.

 

‘It was my exclusive seat even in my past life.’ 

 

It was a table near the exit with no one sitting, but Elaine in her previous life ate there alone like a criminal.

 

Sometimes, mischievous Temple members would hit the table and spill soup or water, or she would get startled while eating, and she would often eat hastily because she felt like everyone passing by was staring at her.

 

However, as that continued for several years, she actually found it more comfortable to eat alone. 

 

When she sits with others, she has to say a word or two even when they are talking about topics she was not interested in.

 

For the past month or so, Elaine had been waiting for this moment to arrive, sitting in the corner so as not to stand out too much.

 

‘It’s a privilege to have a private seat where you can sit and eat alone.’ .

 

Elaine smiled slightly and placed the tray in the familiar spot. 

 

However, instead of turning away from everyone like in her previous life, she looks at everyone.

 

‘I’m not a sinner, so there’s no reason to avoid other people’s attention!’

 

Elaine sat down, thinking that she would confidently face the glances that were staring at her.

 

On a simple wooden plate was placed a loaf of grain bread, a steamed potato, a small sausage, and a plate of cream soup.

 

The meal was always similar, but there were days when she couldn’t get sausages or potatoes if she was busy and came late, so for Elaine, this was a treat.

 

As Elaine was eating leisurely, pretending to read the book she had brought with her, she regretted that she should have eaten there from the beginning.

 

[Lorina looks very angry for some reason?] 

 

“If things had gone according to her plan, I would have been rejected for a few more seats and come here to cry while eating.”

 

[Is this seat some kind of punishment seat?] 

 

“It’s just a seat that no one wants to sit in because it’s close to the exit, so the kids seem to think this is a punishment seat.”

 

Elaine spoke harshly and mashed the steamed potatoes she’s been given with her fork.

 

She mixed the mashed potatoes with a little cream soup, added a little salt that was on the table, and a potato puree that looked pretty good at first glance was ready.

 

‘It was something I had often eaten in my past life, but when I sat with other saints, I was concerned that I would be criticized for eating messily, so I held back.’

 

“I can make and eat things like this because I’m sitting alone!”

 

Elaine, with a satisfied smile, tore off a piece of bread and put some of her own potato puree on it. It was Elaine’s favorite combination.

 

“Mmm, it’s delicious!”

 

This is why she always liked the days when steamed potatoes were served.

 

‘I just wanted this much happiness, but why was life so hard?’

 

Although she almost became a little depressed thinking about her past life, Elaine quickly shook those feelings away and decided to enjoy the happiness.

 

“I’m sorry, Rabes, because I was the only one who’s going to eat it.”

 

[You say that every time you eat.] 

 

“Rabes, I heard you can eat human food too. Are you not hungry?”

 

[that’s when I turned into a human. Dragons are animals that live by magical power, so they have no concept of eating food to sustain their lives.]

 

“Then later, when I leave the temple and Rabes turns into a human, we can eat together then. I’ll cook you something delicious. I’m good at cooking.”

 

Every time this happens, Rabes is reminded of the fact that Elaine is a Lancers.

 

Lancers also always wanted to eat with Rabes.

 

Even before Lancers made her fortune as a wizard, Lancers prepared a simple table with meager ingredients and invited Rabes, who had transformed into a human.

 

[What on earth is that?] 

 

“It’s a soup with potatoes and cabbage. The bread is a bit hard, but it’s quite edible when dipped in soup.”

 

Although the food was shockingly trivial in Rabes’s eyes, he never once turned down Lancers’ invitation to eat.

 

The place where the insignificant food was placed was an old wooden table, or a stone floor in a cave, and on other days it was just a dirt floor, but the warm food they ate while sitting across from each other was quite good.

 

It was also a time for Lancers, who doesn’t smile often, to smile often.

 

‘You liked potatoes back then too.’

 

The reason was that it was cheap, delicious, and filling.

 

Even though she earned a lot of money and was able to eat more fancy food than before, Lancers sometimes had a chef make potato dishes.

 

Although Lancer’s smile had diminished since she became successful, she looked a little happy while eating the potato dish.

 

Rabes said teasingly, remembering Lancers back then.

 

[Even if you’re good at cooking, you probably cook potatoes.] 

 

“Uh? How did you know?”

 

[It’s obvious.] 

 

Even Elaine’s surprised face looked similar to Lancer’s from his previous life, so Rabes laughed a little.

 

At that time, several people who had finished their meal early returned their trays and left, passing by the table where Elaine was sitting.

 

“uh? Why does she eat different food than us?”

 

“huh? You’re right.”

 

They looked at Elaine’s plate and asked curiously.

 

“Special meals aren’t available until next month, so how did you get yours?”

 

“Special meal? This is a regular meal.”

 

“We didn’t get potato puree. I like that.”

 

A boy said, pointing to a mashed potato made by Elaine himself.

 

“Ah, I just made this.”

 

“How can you make that?”

 

“You’ve got a steamed potato, right? Just mash it, mix it with a little cream soup, and add a little salt. Then it becomes like potato puree.”

 

“Wow! Aren’t you a genius?”

 

It wasn’t anything special, but the boys, who had never cooked food on their own, looked at Elaine’s plate with excitement.

 

“I should try making something like that tonight too!”

 

“It sounds really delicious.”

 

“I just tried to eat the steamed potatoes, but it was too dry.”

 

They talked about it with each other and made Elaine feel a little embarrassed, then they said goodbye lightly and passed by.

 

It seemed like there was no intention to bother Elaine.

 

“Kids are still kids.”

 

[It’s because you’re good at cooking potatoes.] 

 

Elaine looked at Rabes and smiled and finished her meal. Not a thought of Lorina or the others remained in her mind.

 

* * *