I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 10
“No, I can’t do magic at all.”
During those cycles of regression, I’d once considered it.
Learning magic as a means of escape had crossed my mind.
But the moment I realized I’d been born with the worst possible talent for it, I gave up.
“……Really?”
Theodore regarded me with a meaningful gaze.
“That’s right. I train with Kai instead.”
“Ah, with the dragon? What kind of training?”
“Various things, but mostly I teach him Human Form Maintenance.”
“Is that so? I’ve never heard of such training before. I’d like to observe sometime.”
Of course he’d never heard of it—there was no precedent for a human raising a dragon……
I suppressed the sigh threatening to escape and answered him.
“I’m afraid observation won’t be possible. Kai is shy around strangers.”
“Then I suppose there’s nothing for it. All right.”
I’d expected he’d push back at least once, but he was surprisingly quick to accept.
“Hmm, so that’s why the Training Ground has been closed in the afternoons. I wondered about that.”
Theodore nodded as if something had just clicked into place.
“Of course—we can’t let the servants discover the dragon.”
“That’s about right.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter if the afternoons are off-limits. I always train in the mornings anyway.”
Theodore stretched languidly, working out his limbs.
“I saw you on the way to training today, so I stopped by, but since I’m not moving around, I’m starting to get restless.”
“But didn’t you say just now you came because you were bored?”
“……Me? When did I……?”
When? Only twenty-five minutes ago you said so yourself.
“I never said any such thing.”
Theodore’s face flushed deeper as he pointed to himself in denial.
Apparently he wasn’t shameless enough to hide a lie convincingly.
Seeing how transparent his lie was, I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“Hey, what—are you laughing at me?”
Theodore bristled, his fists clenching tight.
“It’s nothing. These things happen, doesn’t it.”
“……What?”
“If you want to get angry, feel free. Bottling it up only makes you sick.”
“This—you! Are you making fun of me showing you consideration?!”
Yeah, it’s actually hilarious.
His fists trembled as he exhaled sharply through his nose.
There was something both pitiable and amusing about it—I could feel laughter bubbling up inside me.
Unable to hold back, I turned my head away abruptly.
Swallowing his anger, Theodore declared solemnly.
“You—you won’t be observing my training. Got that?”
“All of a sudden?”
“I was going to show you since we were on the subject anyway!”
“Today, you mean?”
“Yes!”
So that’s how it was.
‘I am rather curious about how swordsmanship training works.’
Since I’d never seen it firsthand before.
Of course, I had no intention of learning Swordsmanship myself.
But it might be useful knowledge to have later.
Having made my decision, I approached Theodore, who was already thoroughly sulking.
“Theodore.”
“…….”
He avoided my gaze without a word.
I pressed forward, stepping into his line of sight to stop him.
“……What?”
Still refusing to meet my eyes, Theodore answered sullenly.
“I’m sorry for teasing you.”
“……Fine.”
“I just… felt like it. Like we were getting closer.”
Theodore’s body went rigid at those words.
“…You did that because you… wanted to?”
“Yes.”
Well, I suppose it was a bit of flattery.
But I don’t dislike getting closer.
Teasing him was actually quite fun.
“Really?”
Theodore’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
I nodded at him several times with the most sincere expression I could muster.
“I’m telling you the truth.”
At my confident words, Theodore’s lips pressed together tightly.
“…It’s too late today. Come by in the morning tomorrow.”
With that, he hurried past me at a brisk pace.
“Wait, you’re walking too fast!”
I rushed to follow him.
“That’s enough! I’m going inside!”
Theodore, his face and ears flushed crimson all the way to his neck, called out loudly.
“See you in the morning!”
I shouted after him as he grew more distant.
Theodore turned back briefly and stared at me for a moment.
“Don’t sleep in and miss the good show!”
With that declaration, he dashed into the Mansion with sudden urgency.
“…So he doesn’t hate me as much as I thought?”
I still couldn’t be sure.
But.
At least today, I’d glimpsed a side of Theodore more honest than before.
***
The next morning.
Thanks to our agreement, my eyes opened earlier than usual.
I gently stroked Kai’s head as he slept peacefully beside me.
Then I slipped out of bed and headed toward the Training Ground.
“Oh my, Miss! Where are you going?”
Partway there, I ran into Annie coming toward my room.
“I have an appointment with Theodore, so I’m heading to the Training Ground.”
At those words, Annie let out a small exclamation.
“Then I’ll go back to your room and clean it!”
“No, you already cleaned yesterday. Just rest today.”
I waved my hand urgently to stop her.
‘Kai’s still sleeping in my room today. I can’t let her find out.’
“But if I don’t clean every day, dust will accumulate…”
“It’s fine. Don’t you have other urgent tasks?”
“Well, I suppose… Then I’ll visit you before you sleep later.”
“That sounds good. Thank you.”
I gave Annie a bright smile and continued on my way.
‘Phew, I finally made it.’
Standing before the Training Ground, I caught my breath.
It was fortunate I hadn’t run into anyone else besides Annie on the way.
“I nearly made myself late.”
Though it was still quite early.
Since I didn’t know when Theodore would start training, it was best to arrive as quickly as possible.
I stared at the large door for a moment, then pushed it with all my strength.
The door was ordinarily so heavy it barely opened even with all my might.
Normally, Kai would have opened it for me instead.
Now, alone, I had no one to ask for help.
“Why won’t it open…”
Just as I was starting to feel the door was being particularly stubborn today.
Click.
Someone behind me placed their hand on the door and pushed together with me.
Creak.
A door larger than myself gradually swung inward.
“You can’t even open something like this on your own? How do you manage to get by?”
I turned to see who it was—Theodore, of course.
“Thank you for helping me.”
“Don’t mention it. I’d have had to do it anyway.”
Theodore shrugged and walked inside, taking a sip from his water canteen.
He tossed the worn leather canteen carelessly onto the floor.
Then he pulled out a wooden sword from a corner nearby.
“Where are you going to watch from?”
“I’ll sit over there.”
I pointed to the spot near where he’d thrown the canteen.
Theodore nodded.
“Don’t come too close. I might hit you without meaning to.”
He said it playfully, tugging the corners of his mouth upward.
He tapped his own shoulder with the wooden sword.
“I won’t come near, no matter what you say.”
I said firmly and settled down beside the canteen.
“…Yeah, all right.”
Theodore answered awkwardly and set the sword down beside him.
Then he began stretching with a serious expression.
‘This is more serious than I expected.’
He’d said he’d only show me a little, and I thought he was just trying to show off.
But it seemed he really intended to let me watch his ordinary training routine.
Not wanting to disturb him, I kept quiet and simply watched.
Theodore occasionally glanced my way as if conscious of my presence.
Before long, he was absorbed in his training, wielding the wooden sword with practiced ease.
“…Oh, not bad.”
He murmured the words so quietly they were barely audible.
I was no expert when it came to swordplay.
But I could sense that he wasn’t training purely for show.
The way he repeated basic stances over and over—the kind other people might dismiss as trivial.
Even though repeating such fundamentals should have grown tedious, the focus evident on his face suggested he never let his concentration slip.
‘Theodore really is serious about the sword.’
I’d always thought of him as nothing but a troublesome, sarcastic boy.
Seeing him like this, he suddenly seemed like a different person.
As I marveled at this inwardly,
he set down the sword after repeating the same basic movements.
“Phew…”
He exhaled heavily and wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel draped over a wooden dummy.
“Are you taking a break?”
At my question, he nodded and came toward me.
He dropped down beside me and picked up the water canteen from the floor to drink.
“Watching isn’t as fun as you thought, is it?”
He asked casually, gulping down the water.
“No, it is.”
At my answer, he let out a small laugh.
“You’re lying. I’ve only been doing basic cuts. What could possibly be fun about that?”
“I’m serious.”
He glanced at me at that.
“It’s nice watching you get so absorbed in what you’re doing.”
“…You… you think so?”
His face, asking me to confirm, seemed redder than usual.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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