I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 12

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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 12
“What are you talking about?”
“That person in the room—Eria’s family member.”
There was something unmistakably firm in the way Kai spoke.
For Kai, Theodore was less a family member than an outright enemy.
‘Did he really hate Theodore that much?’
Or perhaps the hatred had deepened because of this situation.
It was deeply unsettling, but managing the crisis came first.
“Not ‘that person’—Theodore. His name is Theodore.”
“He’s Eria’s family, but he made Eria sad.”
“That’s not it.”
“Because of him, Eria keeps lying and becoming a bad child.”
I looked up at him, at a loss for words.
In those lightless eyes, vertical pupils split the darkness.
A chill ran down my spine.
“If I got rid of that person… would Eria stop hurting?”
‘No. If Kai gets involved in this, my headache will triple.’
The thought of such an unbearable outcome shocked me clear, as if I’d been doused with cold water.
I pulled Kai close, trying urgently to soothe him.
“Kai. I’m sorry I lied to you. But you can’t step in right now. Wait here for a moment.”
“Why?”
“It’s dangerous. And this is something I have to do.”
“But—”
I quickly pressed a piece of candy into Kai’s hand.
Kai tried to give it back to me at once, but I turned away hurriedly and opened the Training Room door.
“You absolutely cannot come inside.”
I gave him a firm warning and stepped in, studying Theodore slowly once more.
He stood motionless, still gripping the broken wooden sword.
Whether he had no more swords to switch to, or was simply exhausted and resting, I couldn’t tell.
But one thing was certain—this was the perfect moment.
I approached him carefully, swallowing down the emotions that threatened to overwhelm me.
Theodore stood dazed.
The rough anger and fear had faded, leaving only a wave of helplessness crashing over him.
My chest felt tight and nauseous.
No matter how many times I felt this, I never grew used to it.
‘It’s fine. It’s all in the past now. It’s fine.’
All I could do was repeat the same words over and over, like casting a spell.
I clamped my mouth shut with one hand and reached out to him with the other.
My trembling hand settled on his shoulder.
Hot skin, damp with sweat, met my touch.
His body flinched at the unfamiliar contact.
I closed my eyes and recalled the time Kai had lost control before.
This was no different.
So I had strong faith that if I simply surrendered to instinct, it would resolve itself.
Because back then too, it had been solved with nothing more than genuine longing for his wellbeing and a gentle touch.
……
His heaving shoulders began to settle.
The emotions that had been surging violently seemed to quiet.
The situation appeared to have stabilized somewhat. I opened my eyes and looked at him.
Theodore, with flushed marks still lingering on his neck and face, breathed deeply and looked at me, then spoke with an awkward smile.
“Theodore, are you feeling better now?”
“You… what was that?”
Theodore looked at me, dazed, then suddenly seized my hand.
His face, which had seemed composed just moments before, was alight with excitement again.
‘Did it not work?’
That couldn’t be.
I definitely felt him improving.
I frowned.
If he’d suddenly grown angry again—
“What is it? That thing you just did to me—was that magic?”
For an entirely different reason this time, her heart swelled with emotion.
She took a breath and set about persuading Theodore calmly.
“Theodore. What I just did wasn’t magic.”
“Then what was it?”
She hesitated at his question.
Honestly, she couldn’t explain clearly what had happened, even to herself.
But claiming it was merely instinctive action seemed unconvincing.
“I’m a Beast Tamer.”
In the end, it was a gamble worth taking.
“What did you just say?”
“Beast Tamer. That’s what I used. I have no knowledge of magic whatsoever.”
Theodore’s pupils wavered.
Perhaps understanding had finally dawned.
A strange relief flickered across his face.
He released her hand slowly and spoke quietly.
“I can’t believe it.”
Theodore averted his gaze from hers.
His lower lip pressed down tightly.
“…That really wasn’t magic just now?”
“Yes. I’m certain.”
“If you’re that confident, then show me once.”
“Show you how?”
“I don’t know, just… tame an animal or something.”
“Then, you know the rabbit in the Garden?”
“You’re going to tame that one?”
“Yes.”
“…You’re not going to hurt it, are you?”
“Of course not. How could I do something like that right in front of you?”
At her words, Theodore seemed to tacitly agree, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
“Ah, fine. I’ll be watching closely—you hurt that thing and you’ll answer for it.”
As if she would.
“Alright then. Let’s go to the Garden.”
She spoke with confidence and walked toward the Training Room door.
She felt Theodore following behind her.
As she and Theodore stepped into the Corridor, she found Kai waiting for her.
“Eria.”
She smiled awkwardly at Kai.
“I’m sorry. Something urgent came up. Can you wait until I finish and come back?”
Kai tilted his head at an angle, as if displeased by her words.
“No.”
“I’m sorry. It really is urgent. I’ll give you lots of Candy instead.”
Kai watched her and Theodore in turns without speaking.
Then he took her hand and returned the Candy she had given him earlier.
The Candy had been crushed into fine powder.
“…You don’t need the Candy?”
“No.”
This was maddening.
“I’ll wait.”
“…What?”
“Come back quickly.”
Kai’s expression unreadable, he turned and entered the Training Room.
A strange heaviness settled in her chest, an uncomfortable tightness in her heart.
The situation had reached some sort of resolution, but nothing felt truly resolved.
There was little she could do about it at this moment.
She pressed gently against her chest, swallowing down the discomfort that had taken root.
As the Training Room door slammed shut with a bang, Theodore, who had been standing silently with his mouth pressed closed, let out a small complaint.
“Why does that brat always make a fuss whenever he sees me?”
He was the one who picked a fight from the very first day.
She wanted to say it outright, but she knew this wasn’t the moment for such candor, so she let the thought pass.
“Let’s go quickly.”
“Yes.”
Theodore didn’t seem to expect a real answer either, so he simply nodded and left it at that.
We made our way to the Garden in silence.
***
Once we arrived at the Garden, we looked for the white rabbit first.
“There it is.”
I pointed toward the rustling sound.
Soon enough, a rabbit bounded out from that direction.
Seeing the rabbit, Theodore folded his arms and spoke to me.
“Go on, try it.”
I knelt down and completed my preparations to commune with the rabbit.
“Huu…….”
I stilled my mind.
All my focus flowed toward the one I wished to reach.
“But hey, how am I supposed to know you’ve actually tamed the thing?”
Theodore’s question nearly scattered my concentration.
‘You’ll see, you restless fool.’
I answered silently and poured my attention back into the rabbit.
Just as on that first day, the rabbit’s eyes found mine.
Its eyes, bright as rubies, blinked once.
Then it began hopping toward me.
Cautiously, and with gentleness.
I slowly extended my hand toward it.
After sniffing my scent for a moment, the rabbit’s cheek pressed against my palm.
“……Huh.”
Theodore gasped in surprise, and at that, the rabbit suddenly bounded into my arms.
I gently stroked its head, communing with the rabbit as it settled into the comfort of my embrace.
“Surely you believe me now?”
I looked up at Theodore with a confident smile.
He stared down at me and the rabbit, his face flushed, then let out a series of awkward coughs.
He turned his head toward the flowers blooming in the Garden, his tone becoming sharp and petulant as he posed his question.
“How did you do that?”
“Would you like me to teach you?”
“I know it’s not something you can just teach someone.”
“Then why are you asking?”
“…….”
“Brother?”
Had I been too sharp in my retort?
Theodore’s words faltered as he fumbled for a response, then he squeezed his eyes shut and let out a single phrase.
“I just… want to touch it too.”
Did he really need to say something like that with such solemnity?
‘The more I see, the more I realize—this fellow is definitely an animal lover.’
I rose from my seat and brought the rabbit in my arms closer to him.
“Would you like to hold it?”

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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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