I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 35

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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 35
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All the way to the Magic Tower, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Princess’s gift.
The moment I stepped down from the carriage, the Magic Tower’s overwhelming size should have captured my attention—but it didn’t.
“Sigh…….”
I exhaled heavily, my breath laden with worry.
“Eria, are you all right? Was the carriage ride that rough on you?”
Kai, who’d climbed down a moment later, took my hand with concern etched across his face.
My expression had been poor ever since I’d boarded the carriage, so he’d assumed it was motion sickness.
“It’s not that. But thank you for worrying anyway.”
“You seem to have a lot on your mind these days.”
Yes, and there’s good reason.
I never saw it coming.
I never imagined that even Edward wouldn’t know what the Princess liked.
“Is that so?”
I forced a smile, but my teeth gnawed at my lower lip with anxiety.
The conversation I’d had with Edward yesterday sprang to mind.
‘The Princess? Well. She’s rather difficult to predict.’
‘That’s too vague. Explain it more specifically.’
‘Fine, fine, stop pestering me. So……. Well, it seems she likes curious things.’
‘Curious things?’
‘Things that don’t exist in the Imperial Palace, things that are hard to obtain.’
‘Does such a thing exist?’
‘That’s exactly why it’s difficult.’
So it’s difficult, he said…….
That was easy enough for him to say, unburdened as he was.
‘Rare and curious items,’ he’d said.
Not that I, who’ve never had a strong preference for anything, was in a position to judge.
Honestly, I couldn’t understand why she’d like such things.
Perhaps it was because I’d been sickly since birth and spent all my time in the Imperial Palace.
Though to be fair, in that regard I’m no different from her.
The only places I’ve ever been are the Laboratory and the Croiman Duke’s Residence.
Just those two.
‘If only I could find some clue here at the Magic Tower.’
I left my thoughts there and focused on Kai instead.
Dwelling on it further would only muddle my mind.
“Shall we go inside?”
“Yes.”
The interior, stretching up so high you’d think your neck would snap, was far more vast and intricate than it appeared from outside.
The eyes of people moving about nearby fixed on us.
It seemed only natural—we were the only children, and we stood out.
“Little one, what brings you here?”
A staff member passing directly in front of us stopped and bent down on one knee.
I gripped Kai’s hand tightly.
Kai’s senses were keen enough that he could find me anywhere.
But I didn’t want to create a situation where we’d be separated in the first place.
“We’d like to meet the Master of the Magic Tower.”
“……The Master?”
“Yes. Where is he right now?”
“What? Ha ha ha!”
Apparently taking it as a joke, he burst into uproarious laughter.
He laughed so hard that passersby turned to look at us.
“Child. The Master is far too busy. You won’t be able to see him.”
I know that.
But it’s because that busy man called for us that we’ve come.
‘Though I can’t exactly say that aloud…….’
“Then, where might Captain Liliana be?”
The staff member’s laughter ceased, and he looked at me in surprise.
“Little one, you know the Captain?”
“Yes.”
Then hurry up and show me the way.
I had no patience for drawing this out with him.
I still had Dark Magic research to oversee.
I needed to measure Kai’s abilities.
And there was plenty to do once I met with Luke.
“What’s your relationship with that person? Do you have an Access Pass?”
He stepped closer to me.
Kai moved in front of me at once and produced his Access Pass.
His eyes widened as he examined it closely—they nearly bulged from their sockets.
“Gasp—this signature…….”
“The Master of the Magic Tower wrote it himself.”
Someone appeared suddenly behind him and finished the sentence.
It was Liliana, the Captain.
“Eek!”
He yelped in fright and landed hard on his backside.
Kai quickly wrapped his arm around me, pulling me back to keep us from colliding with him.
“Your Highness. It’s been a long time.”
Liliana offered a crisp salute.
I beamed and gathered my dress, returning the greeting with warmth.
“Captain! I’ve missed you!”
“Your—Your Highness? But you’re just a kid, or rather……. You’re saying that you’re……?”
The dazed employee sat on the floor, barely coherent.
In his shock, the Access Pass had torn slightly.
“I’m—I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t realize and I…….”
He bowed deeply and held the pass back out to us.
Kai took it without sparing him so much as a glance.
He then bowed his head in greeting to Liliana.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“You are…….”
“Oh, this is Kai. You’ve seen him once before, haven’t you?”
“Yes. He seems quite different from then.”
Liliana spoke as if finding something remarkable.
Of course—the last time she’d seen Kai, he’d been acting like a lovesick fool.
“I apologize. I tend not to retain memories.”
“……That’s not it.”
Liliana answered awkwardly to his words.
She seemed unable to adjust to his sudden transformation.
“Please, call me Kaiden from now on.”
Kai placed slight emphasis on his name.
“Of course, Kaiden. And Your Highness—this way, please.”
Liliana moved forward without hesitation.
Luke must have sent her.
It seemed too convenient otherwise.
“W—wait just a moment, please!”
The employee called out to the three of us as we departed.
I glanced back to see him finally pushing himself up from the floor.
“Don’t mind that man.”
Noticing that we’d stopped because of him, Liliana spoke coolly.
“Yes, of course.”
I continued after her, ignoring his plaintive voice behind us.
“How have you been faring?”
When the employee’s voice had faded completely, Liliana asked.
It seemed like mere politeness, but—
her smile, cast sidelong toward me, held genuine warmth.
As though she truly meant it, as though she genuinely cared about my welfare.
“……Oh yes! I’ve been having a wonderful time!”
Though “wonderful” hardly captured everything that had happened in such a short span…….
There had been a tea party to host.
There had been the perfect temperature for tea water to discover.
There had been a person to knock flat on her back.
I never thought I’d set foot in the Magic Tower again.
Now I’m going to the Imperial Palace too.
But there was no need to spell it all out, so I decided to change the subject.
“How have you been, Commander?”
“Without incident, I assure you.”
A hint of bitterness colored the end of Liliana’s words.
Only then did her lost daughter come to mind.
‘She still hasn’t found her.’
If my memory served right, it had been roughly three years now.
When time permitted, I’d have to look into that daughter myself.
There was the matter of principle, of course.
But it was also an opportunity that could benefit me.
The Commander of the Magic Tower Knight Order was skilled enough to be formidable—turning her into my true ally would be invaluable.
‘Edward and Theodore are fundamentally on Croiman’s side.’
They could offer help, but they weren’t people who would act solely for me.
Relying only on their assistance wouldn’t be enough.
I needed to build independent networks beyond Croiman’s reach.
That would let me gather intelligence on the Laboratory far more efficiently.
‘The more I think about it, the more promising this seems.’
I’d be coming back to the Magic Tower a few more times anyway.
This was as good a chance as any to win over Liliana.
“Um, Commander Liliana.”
“Yes?”
“After you take me to the Duke, what are you planning to do?”
“I have no particular schedule planned.”
She paused in thought, then corrected herself.
“I’ll likely be heading to the Training Grounds.”
“Really? That sounds amazing!”
I clapped my hands together excitedly, my eyes gleaming.
Caught off guard by my sudden burst of enthusiasm, Liliana blinked.
“…Would you perhaps like to watch later?”
“What? Really, I can?”
“Of course.”
That was exactly what I was hoping to hear.
“Is today okay too?”
“Today, you mean?”
Her eyes rolled slightly at my eagerness.
She must find this burdensome.
I certainly understood the feeling.
If I were in her position, I’d find it annoying too.
But… there was no way around it if I wanted us to get closer.
Sometimes you just had to push forward without reading the room—with a bright, innocent smile.
“I have no objection.”
She finally spoke after a long hesitation, just when I was curious for more.
“Though there will be quite a bit of dust stirring about, so it may be difficult to observe from too close.”
After all that deliberation, her concern turned out to be something rather trivial.
“I don’t mind! But Commander.”
“Yes?”
“…Well, you see.”
I stopped in my tracks, wiggling my fingers nervously.
Liliana and Kai, who had been walking alongside me, stopped and turned to look.
I stepped closer to her and grasped those large, calloused hands with both of mine.
“…!”
Liliana’s eyes wavered ever so slightly.
I caught a glimpse of her ears growing steadily redder.
Watching the minute movements of her pupils, I held her gaze.
“I’ve always thought you were cool, Commander—I really wanted to see you in action! I know it’s asking a lot, but I’m really grateful…”
I spoke like an embarrassed child, my body twisting shyly.
Liliana answered in a small voice.
“…No, it’s fine.”
She had been staring at me intently, but now she turned her head sharply and resumed walking.
Her arms and legs stretched out in perfect rhythm, swinging in the same direction.
“Let’s go together!”
I followed her with a bright smile, matching my pace to hers.
“Eria.”
Kai interjected, his expression clouding over with disapproval.

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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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