I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 37

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

Chapter 37
The two of them crossed to the far side of the Research Laboratory and exchanged a few words.
Luke’s voice hummed softly through the air.
If I stepped closer and concentrated, I might have been able to make out the words.
I kept myself just one pace away from the glass barrier, straining to hear.
I didn’t want to risk stepping inside and disrupting their work.
“……What matters is that you engage with your full strength.”
‘I can hear them.’
But the content gave me pause.
Full strength? In a fight?
Was he serious?
So ability measurement was conducted in such a crude manner?
It seemed rather foolish, but I wasn’t in a position to argue about it.
In truth, there probably wasn’t a more direct and efficient method of measurement than this.
“Understood, sir.”
Kai lowered his head obediently.
Anxiety gnawed at me as I kept lifting and lowering my heels.
I hoped neither of them would end up seriously injured.
‘For this confrontation to even take place…….’
Luke would have to be overwhelmingly stronger, wouldn’t he?
To stand against a dragon determined to fight in earnest.
“Still, Luke should be stronger right now.”
After all, Luke was currently overseeing Kai’s magical education.
He would know Kai’s current abilities far better than I did.
He must have devised this method based on data from their training sessions.
“Let’s just hope they manage this without injury—”
Bang!
My murmuring was drowned out by a piercing boom that seemed to tear at my ears.
I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my ears.
Fortunately, the quick response prevented any serious damage.
‘My ears are ringing…….’
Even though it wasn’t painful, a tingling sensation lingered in my ears.
When I opened my eyes again, I’d stumbled backward several paces.
“……Kai.”
Is this measurement really okay?
Concern made me squint as I watched them both.
The smooth floor where Luke had been standing was now deeply dented.
Kai’s pupils elongated vertically, then expanded to fill his irises—a cycle repeating.
He bit his lower lip slightly.
His eyes darted rapidly across the space, and then he swept one hand outward in a sharp gesture.
‘Is he calculating distance?’
An instant later, a brilliant flash of light erupted, searing bright.
Boom—
A second detonation shook the air.
Because I’d kept my ears covered, it didn’t assault me as harshly this time.
This attack was fire magic.
Luke watched Kai’s Fireball and busily scribbled notes in his Notebook.
It was a peculiar sight.
Here was a dragon fighting with explosive force enough to kill a man.
And there was Luke, taking no offensive action whatsoever—merely recording observations.
I didn’t know whether to call it indulgence or mockery.
In fact, Kai looked somewhat irritated.
As he began to chant the next spell, his brow furrowed more deeply than before.
“Kai, stay calm!”
I wasn’t sure if he could hear me, but I called out loudly anyway, hoping it would help him keep his composure.
When you lose your temper, even what you could do before becomes impossible.
I felt Kai’s gaze turn toward me.
He must have heard what I said.
Kai exhaled heavily, a deep breath that seemed to settle him.
He lowered his body fluidly and dampened the floor with water.
“…!”
Luke’s eyes widened in genuine surprise as he deftly sidestepped away.
His movements had crossed into a different dimension than anything he’d shown before.
They were too fast to follow with the eye.
‘What’s in the water?’
Looking closer, I saw sparks crackling through it like an electric current.
I’d heard that changing attributes mid-deployment was far more difficult.
But watching Luke’s expression, it seemed he hadn’t taught Kai this properly.
A proud smile bloomed across my face unbidden.
See that.
My boy’s magic is this good.
“….”
The measurement stopped abruptly.
The two of them began to converse.
Kai was nodding along while Luke spoke, taking it all in.
Were they exchanging feedback?
I was desperately curious about their conversation.
Yet I also worried my ears might suffer the same fate as before.
‘I’ll figure it out later—Luke can fix them with Recovery Magic anyway.’
In the end, I leaned in again to eavesdrop on their exchange.
“…You’ve already surpassed me in terms of raw destructive power, and for some time now.”
“Is that so.”
Luke nodded in agreement.
“The issue is that your attack patterns are too simple—lacking in variety.”
He jotted something in his notebook as he continued.
“It stems from the limited range of magic I’ve taught you thus far.”
“I will correct this.”
“How did you manage that last attack?”
“This one, you mean?”
Kai pointed to the pool of water.
“Yes.”
“I heard Eria’s suggestion and the idea came to me in that moment, so I attempted it.”
“To change the incantation mid-deployment, you’d need to use something I haven’t taught you.”
Luke seemed absorbed in thought, tapping his notebook rhythmically.
“Could you try writing down what you deployed here?”
“Of course.”
Kai took the notebook and pen, paused briefly to collect his thoughts, then
began writing without hesitation, his hand moving steadily across the page.
“This is….”
Luke’s eyes grew wider and wider as he observed from beside him.
He retrieved the notebook and studied what Kai had written for a long moment.
“I’ll have to remodel this according to your method when I have the time.”
“Please teach me the original method as well, later.”
“There’s no need. What you’ve shown me is far more efficient.”
Luke turned the pages, writing more and more as he became completely absorbed in the magic.
He’d been utterly consumed by that technique.
‘…At this rate, when will he finish the measurement.’
The whole purpose had fallen by the wayside.
I couldn’t help myself—I called out once more.
“Luke! Kai! What are you two discussing?”
I played ignorant, and Luke hastily folded his notebook shut.
He raised his hand.
Then he pointed toward a chair.
It seemed he meant for me to sit and wait a moment.
The instant I turned my body toward the chair,
it suddenly flew toward me of its own accord.
Luke must have cast magic to bring it over.
“What was the output level on those spells you cast earlier?”
Once he confirmed I was seated, Luke turned back to Kai and asked.
“That was my maximum, by my own measure.”
“Can you run through those first two again?”
“After a few minutes’ rest, yes.”
“Then it probably won’t be your absolute maximum.”
He spoke those words while launching into an incomprehensible magical theory.
Then he had Kai perform the same spell he’d cast before.
After requesting a few more variations, he seemed satisfied with his observations.
He and Kai made their way over to where I stood.
“The first phase is complete.”
Luke withdrew something from the bookshelf as he spoke.
It was a rectangular device with an adult man’s palm drawn in the center.
“That’s an unusual design.”
“A Magical Power Measurement Device.”
……If something like this existed, why go through all that earlier business?
I hid my bewilderment and listened intently to his explanation.
“Place your hand over here.”
Kai laid his palm over the drawn hand.
And nothing happened.
“Just as I thought—it reads as unmeasurable.”
Ah…….
So he’d done all that brutishly because he’d already decided it was meaningless.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see one register that way.”
Luke murmured to himself and returned the device to the shelf.
“Can that thing measure you too, Duke?”
“It can.”
His maximum was far higher than I’d expected.
“Since this device was invented, only one person has ever registered as unmeasurable.”
“Who?”
“My mother.”
Ah—one of the five heroes who’d defeated the Black Dragon.
Harna Kroiman.
Luke was formidable enough himself, but she must have possessed truly extraordinary talent.
“That’s enough measurements for today. Kai, I’ll call you again next time.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, Duke! Can I go see Liliana now?”
Luke’s expression turned puzzled at the sudden question.
“What business do you have with her?”
“She’s training today! I’ve wanted to watch for the longest time.”
“……As long as it’s before sunset.”
“Really? Thank you so much!”
I grabbed his sleeve lightly and bounced on my heels with excitement.
Seeing this, Luke’s expression softened into an unguarded smile.
“I’ll take you to her.”
***
Luke walked me to the Training Ground and returned to the Research Laboratory.
He muttered something about having so much research ahead that he might not sleep for days.
‘His passion is remarkable.’
When he discovered a new Incantation Formula through me, or when he immersed himself in old texts for his Dark Magic research—
the way he lost himself in his work
reminded me of someone.
Someone missing a screw.
Watching his retreating figure, I was struck by the memory of two very familiar brothers.
“Eria, let’s go inside.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.”
I hurried after Kai into the Training Ground.
“Ha-yah!”
With a cry that seemed to come from deep within, Liliana swung her blade.
As I drew closer, she finally lowered her sword.
“Welcome.”

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