I'll Stop Regressing and Raise a Baby Dragon - Chapter 4

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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 4
“Your Grace, you agreed to accept that child—or rather, young lady—into the Croiman Family in exchange for the egg, did you not?”
Of course I did.
But did you really think I’d hand over the egg so easily?
“Even if we received a dragon, what use is it if we cannot properly utilize it?”
“That is…”
Ren, at a loss for words, shot Luke a pleading look.
But Luke didn’t respond to Ren’s silent appeal—instead, he kept his eyes on me, as if urging me to continue.
I smiled, keeping my composure intact.
“I’m confident. I understand dragons well.”
“Yes, I saw what you did when the egg hatched.”
Luke spoke quietly.
The events surrounding the hatching flickered through my memory.
‘Annie, could you bring warm water and clean cloth?’
‘Master of the Magic Tower, the dragon will hatch in conditions far too dry and cold. Could you make this room warmer and more humid?’
The people at the Magic Tower knew so little about dragons that I couldn’t help but step in.
It would raise suspicion if a child knew too much, but I didn’t care.
My origins and past record held no real weakness.
Only secrets I couldn’t share with others had to remain hidden.
Critical information about dragons, for instance.
The countless deaths I’d endured to reach this point.
And… regression, things like that.
“Besides, Kai is currently Imprinted with Your Grace, isn’t he? Of course he’ll prioritize your orders above mine.”
Though that wasn’t true at all.
“That’s certainly so.”
Luke, unaware of the truth, nodded seriously at my persuasion.
“No, Your Grace…”
Ren fidgeted, calling out to Luke while his eyes darted between us.
“Chirp—!”
At that perfect moment, Kai let out a delighted cry and rushed toward me.
“Oh, Kai?”
“Oo, ah!”
With a spirited cry, Kai transformed into human form and nestled against me.
Kai, appearing a head shorter than me, rubbed his cheek against mine and cooed like an infant.
It was natural—he was far too young to have learned human language yet.
The coarse texture of Kai’s black hair brushed against my cheek.
His clear violet eyes gazed up at me from my arms.
Long, thick lashes traced a beautiful arc above them.
“Ooh…”
Annie let out a soft gasp at that doll-like smile, then quickly covered her mouth as she recalled the solemn atmosphere.
‘…Freshly hatched, Kai really is adorable no matter how many times I see him.’
I gently nudged away Kai’s small lips as they tried to grasp my hair.
Then I quickly wrapped his bare body in cloth.
Kai held tight to the cloth I’d wrapped around him and smiled again.
The dragon’s characteristic vertically elongated violet pupils had transformed into round human-like eyes.
Something was odd.
‘He’s never taken human form this quickly before.’
I didn’t understand why this sudden change had occurred, and it unsettled me somewhat—but the situation itself wasn’t unfavorable.
Everyone was staring at Kai and me with shocked expressions.
The dragon’s abrupt transformation into human form was remarkable enough.
But when that dragon openly displayed affection toward me, it must have seemed even more extraordinary.
“Master of the Magic Tower, please trust me. I can care for Kai well.”
I seized the opportunity and spoke with conviction.
Even better, Kai was actively nuzzling his cheek against mine to show his approval.
What possible objection could they raise?
“…But wait. Y-you don’t mean to say that it’s not His Grace, but rather the young lady who is Imprinted with that dragon?”
Ren, who had been watching cautiously, asked me with trembling hands.
“No.”
I denied it firmly.
“It’s because I’m a Beast Tamer.”
Everyone’s expression shifted to one of surprise at her words.
‘Why is everyone so startled? Is it really that remarkable?’
She’d only spoken whatever came to mind in the moment.
Ren, in particular, looked flustered as she asked.
“……Beast Tamer? You are, Miss?”
“Yes. The research facility told me so.”
“Do you understand what that entails?”
Luke asked without much inflection.
She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
To be honest, she didn’t have a clear understanding of what a Beast Tamer was.
All she knew was that they could befriend animals more easily than ordinary people—beyond that, nothing much.
The research facility had told her nothing else about it.
And there were no good records to consult.
“Fundamentally, they’re people who tame and subdue animals—and in the case of advanced Beast Tamers, even Magical Beasts.”
Luke gestured lightly with his hand.
Glimmering stars gathered in the empty air, beginning to form images of people and animals.
It was a charming picture—animals adoring and obediently following a person.
“But it’s on an entirely different level from ordinary people simply raising livestock.”
As he added his explanation, the eyes of the once-docile animals began to glow steadily redder.
“Depending on the ‘rank’ of the animal, there are differences, but a Beast Tamer’s commands are absolute to every creature they’ve tamed.”
One of the animals in the image crumbled away uselessly at the man’s gesture.
“They cannot refuse orders even if it contradicts their instinct and will. For example, something like self-harm…….”
Luke’s explanation, which had been flowing smoothly, suddenly cut off.
At the same moment, all the glimmering stars scattered.
‘Why did he stop? That was interesting.’
She followed Luke’s bewildered gaze and turned to look behind her.
Sure enough, both Annie and Ren were staring at him quite sternly.
Ren in particular looked at him with reproving eyes, then pointed toward Eria.
Only then did she realize their silent opposition had caused the conversation to break off.
‘They didn’t like me hearing about self-harm in front of the girl?’
……She didn’t really need that kind of consideration.
Still, something pricked her chest oddly.
It was a strange feeling she’d never experienced before.
“Ahem. If you’re confident you can care for it well, you take charge of that dragon.”
Luke cleared his throat lightly and snapped his notebook shut as he spoke.
“Your Grace!”
Luke ignored Ren’s call and continued.
“You must be tired, so go rest at the Mansion.”
Having said so, Luke tucked his notebook inside his clothes as if to leave, then turned toward Ren.
“Ren. Call for a carriage and prepare to take Eria to the Mansion.”
“……Yes.”
Ren, who had seemed to oppose the matter to the end, ultimately bowed her head to Luke and acquiesced.
Once Ren left the room to summon the carriage, Luke turned his gaze toward Annie and gave his instructions.
“Annie. From now on, you are to become Eria’s exclusive attendant and stay by her side.”
“Yes, sir.”
Annie answered respectfully, offering a proper bow.
“Eria.”
“Yes?”
“Since you said you can write, I’d appreciate it if you kept a brief daily record of what happens while caring for the dragon.”
“Understood.”
Write reports every day?
Did this man truly devote his entire life to work?
She felt inwardly weary but answered with an outward smile, and Luke left the room, as if he had no further orders to give.
Only Eria, Annie, and Kai remained in the room.
Continuing to hold Kai in her arms felt strange.
She eventually detached Kai and sat him on her bed.
With Kai’s downcast face behind her, she asked Annie carefully.
“Um, Annie.”
“Yes, Miss?”
“Would you happen to have any clothes that would fit Kai?”
“I’ll look into it for you. And… miss, since you are a daughter of the Croiman Family, please feel free to call me by my name.”
“Oh, I understand. Thank you, Annie.”
“It’s nothing, miss. The carriage should be ready soon, and we’ll be heading to the Mansion. If you’re feeling tired, I can let them know you’d prefer to rest a bit longer before we depart.”
“No, I’d rather leave as soon as possible.”
“Of course, miss. Oh, and I’ll bring you several outfits to choose from as well.”
Annie left the room with a smile, and at last I could breathe freely, away from all those eyes. I sank onto the edge of the bed.
“Hrmm…”
The moment I sat down, Kai pressed close and rested his head against my shoulder.
“Yes, Kai. We’ve finally made it this far.”
“Uh?”
Kai tilted his head, clearly not understanding my words.
“I need to play the perfect daughter. I have to make the Croiman Family completely mine.”
That’s the only way I can have my revenge.
Against those bastards who destroyed us both like this.
I swallowed down the rage that threatened to boil over and smiled, patting Kai’s back.
“They’ll pay for what they’ve done. Won’t they, Kai?”
***
“Your Grace, the carriage has been summoned. It should arrive in thirty minutes.”
Ren, having swiftly completed his task, entered the study without bothering to knock.
Luke read through the documents without looking up, speaking in an even tone.
“It seems Eria isn’t quite satisfied.”

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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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