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“The egg and growth process of a Divine Beast recorded in an ancient document discovered recently are very similar. There are many records of newly hatched eggs, but that was the only journal observing a growing egg. Seeing that, I was convinced. This egg is a very rare Divine Beast egg. It must be kept at the Academy for research!”
The Headmaster sighed deeply.
The professors at the Academy were half-crazed in researching their expertise.
But he never imagined they would try to hatch something suspected to be a Monster's egg.
Count Helio also looked dumbfounded.
“What is that Divine Beast that you would block even the Emperor’s order? Get out of the way immediately!”
The Count, enraged, ordered the knights waiting behind him.
“Bring me that egg!”
And at that moment.
Crack.
The egg began to crack. The knights, flustered, raised their swords.
The timid Headmaster fell backward, screaming.
“Monster, a Monster is hatching!”
Thud.
Soon, the egg split in half, and a creature peeked out. The Headmaster squeezed his eyes shut.
He thought the Academy would be devastated because those crazy Monster scholars had hatched a Monster.
But even after some time, the roar of a Monster was not heard.
Curious about the situation, the Headmaster cautiously opened one eye.
“Piyo?”
The problematic Monster soon came into view through the narrow gap.
Tilting its small head, with shimmering black scales... a Monster?
Was that really a Monster?
Small and adorable, it huddled its slender body, its wings not yet fully spread.
The body, covered in mucus, had a subtle sheen like well-polished obsidian.
Its blinking eyes sparkled with a golden light.
Rosia, regaining her senses, shouted in a shrill voice.
“W-What is that? A Monster, it’s a Monster, right! What kind of Monster is it?”
In fact, she also sensed it inwardly.
The creature before her was too cute and adorable to be called a Monster.
Professor Stefan, at her words, shouted angrily.
“A Monster? That is none other than a Black Dragon! A legendary Divine Beast, now known to be extinct!”
Those who studied Monsterology were also well-versed in the types of Divine Beasts.
This was to avoid mistakenly raising a Monster's egg as a Divine Beast's egg.
Of course, most Monster eggs were obvious from their appearance, so it was rare to be confused.
However, there were occasionally such special exceptions. Professor Stefan then exclaimed in a voice filled with emotion.
“Ayla’s words were true. This was not some Monster egg! It was a Black Dragon egg.”
As if responding to Professor Stefan's words, the Black Dragon let out another cute cry.
“Piyo!”
“Now that all charges have been dropped, you may leave the room.”
Ayla looked bewildered at the knight's sudden words.
She stared at him with eyes seeking explanation, but the knight merely gestured towards the door with a troubled look.
In the end, Ayla had no choice but to leave the room without knowing why.
Felix, who seemed to have been released before her, was standing in the hallway.
“Ah, Felix.”
“Ayla, what is going on all of a sudden?”
“You didn’t get an explanation either?”
“No, they just told me to leave…”
The two were talking with troubled faces.
“Ayla! Felix!”
Peony was approaching quickly from afar, accompanied by guards.
Seeing the smile on her face, it didn't seem to be bad news, at least.
“Are you both okay? Goodness, Ayla, why does your face look so… good?”
Peony was taken aback as she examined Ayla's condition.
She had expected her to look exhausted after being locked in a solitary cell for several days, but instead, she looked more vibrant than before.
It was as if she had been on a relaxing vacation in a sunny place, rather than being confined.
“Solitary confinement was more comfortable than I thought. The food was good too. By the way, how did we get released?”
Peony looked bewildered, but soon her eyes sparkled as if she had remembered important news.
“The egg hatched today. And as you said, what came out of it wasn’t a Monster!”
As soon as she heard those words, Ayla's face, which had been stiff with tension, softened.
She was relieved that her innocence had been proven, but more than anything, she was happy that the egg had hatched safely.
“If it wasn’t a Monster, what exactly was it?”
Ayla had some idea of what the egg was, but she asked to be more certain.
Peony looked around once and dismissed the guards lined up behind her.
Then, she whispered.
“Guess what came out of that egg… a Black Dragon! It’s still a secret to everyone else, so you have to be careful.”
Ayla smiled brightly at Peony's excitement.
“Okay, I will. I knew I was right. I’m glad.”
Peony’s eyes widened. Ayla’s reaction was more nonchalant than she had expected.
“Did you know that a Black Dragon would come out?”
“Somewhat. It didn’t look like a typical Divine Beast egg.”
“It’s not just any Divine Beast. It’s an unbelievably huge deal!”
Peony shouted loudly.
But Ayla’s expression remained calm. Seeing that, Peony frowned as if she was flustered.
It was clear that her friend didn’t realize how great a Black Dragon was.
“You know that Black Dragons were distant ancestors of the Imperial Family, right? The reappearance of a Black Dragon could turn the empire’s political landscape upside down!”
Peony paused for a moment and made a serious face.
“If this news spreads, the diplomatic repercussions will be enormous.”
Moreover, the appearance of a Dragon was a matter that the Magic Tower would be interested in.
Dragons displayed outstanding magical abilities once they reached adulthood.
That was why all Mages wanted to possess a Dragon.
It was a Divine Beast that was helpful just by being nearby, as it increased Mana affinity.
But Ayla still didn’t seem to realize it, blinking blankly.
“So, what happens to the hatched Dragon now?”
Peony couldn’t answer right away this time.
It was because she couldn’t bring herself to say it in front of Ayla. Peony squeezed her eyes shut and whispered in a small voice.
“Well, the Dragon… is going to be the property of the Imperial Family.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Felix frowned slightly.
He sighed softly, and finally couldn’t help but speak.
“What do you mean? Why is the Imperial Family taking the egg that Ayla hatched? I found it and gave it to Ayla.”
Peony looked distressed at Felix’s words.
Even though the Black Dragon was a Divine Beast symbolizing the Imperial Family, taking the egg while they were locked in solitary confinement was something she couldn’t excuse.
As a member of the same Imperial Family, Peony lowered her head as if she was ashamed.
“I’m sorry. It’s because the Black Dragon is that important. Of course, I’ll try my best to make sure you get credit for finding and caring for the egg.”
“I didn’t say that for such compensation… Never mind.”
Felix still seemed dissatisfied, clenching his fist tightly and swallowing his words.
Ayla patted him lightly on the shoulder as if to stop him.
“If His Majesty the Emperor wishes it, there’s nothing we can do.”
She pretended to be calm on the outside, but in reality, she felt bitter.
How much effort had she put into hatching the egg?
It pained her to part with the Divine Beast that had hatched with such difficulty without even meeting it, but Ayla tried not to show it.
‘There’s no point in protesting here. It will only make Peony’s position difficult.’
She understood to some extent why the Imperial Family would volunteer to protect the Dragon.
The Black Dragon was a symbolic being, so it had the potential to become a source of conflict if not handled carefully.
‘Besides, obtaining a Dragon as a Divine Beast is a very rare opportunity.’
So the Imperial Family would never let go of the Black Dragon.
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