Chapter 77

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

“Really?” The dragon seems to be surprised with an expression of disbelief.

Bai Lianhua nods, “of course. I’ve never lied, have I?”

“No. You’ve never lied to me,” explains the dragon, who seems to be worried Bai Lianhua would misunderstand, “I just thought you might dislike or be scared of…”

Bai Lianhua pauses for a bit before asking him sincerely, “would becoming your treasure be dangerous? … Would you pry my scales off just because it looked pretty on my tail?”

The dragon shakes his head incessantly in a panic, “no, no, definitely not.”

Bai Lianhua stops with the teasing and doesn’t ask him about the other parts of his body one by one, just in case the big guy might get all agitated and turn from a dragon into a fire-spewing dragon.

He then asks, tilting his head, “then would you lock me up just to be able to look at me whenever and ever?”

The dragon shakes his head, seemingly even more nervous this time. He was supposed to look unapproachable and deadly, but his shaking his head left to right like a rattle drum has somehow made him look like a big dummy, “I just want to protect you, so that you’re always happy.”

So that the little merman’s pupils would never dim, nor will his beautiful tail lose its lustre.

Bai Lianhua then chuckles with joy, “so, isn’t it a good thing to be your treasure? Why should I hate it or be scared of it?”

“It’s a promise then, that you would protect me well.”

Hearing this, the dragon seems ecstatic. He not only nods as hard as he could, but even his eyes and mouth have also curled into such a joyous curvature. If he was able to touch the little merman too, he would definitely have also lifted Bai Lianhua up to turn around in circles.

The system that’s been spectating along quietly can’t help but turn its head to the side.

Seriously. This world’s antagonist is too dumb. Why is he so easy, so powerless in front of the host. He’s practically waving a little white flag, surrendering with this weird atmosphere… It almost feels like its existence is unnecessary here.

#Who am I? Why am I here? And am stuffing mouthfuls of dog food into my mouth in self-harm?#

Argh, it can’t be that the depressed host will be healed up in exchange for it failing through overdose in this world, right?

The system feels bitter——Still, it’s of note that it might be bitter, but it doesn’t want any more candies stuffed into it, thanks.

…

Bai Lianhua stays behind, picking up life as he used to in this world before.

Of course, the dragon also asked him with a careful tone, “then, before, when you left, where did you go?”

Seemingly afraid Bai Lianhua would be unhappy, he quickly adds, “if you don’t want to, you can ignore that.”

Sachston doesn’t want the merman to feel pressed. He’s just worried that with the once, would there be a twice and a thrice?

Then can he be permitted to look for him? Or, even better, accompany him? He’s willing to go wherever.

Bai Lianhua’s body goes stiff for a moment and then tries his best to look convincingly confident, “I wanted to explore new waters, but I got lost…”

It’s a rather lame excuse, but that’s alright. However fake it sounds, if it’s the little merman saying it, the dragon is willing to believe in it completely.”

So he asks, hesitantly, “oh. Then, in the future… would you still want to explore new waters?”

——Can he be brought along? He’s super useful. He can make sure the little merman doesn’t have to worry about anything along the way.”

“No, no, I’m never going again.”

Bai Lianhua blinks and says, “I really think where you are is the best.”

Sachston is immediately cheered up. He’s even unable to hold back his happiness and turned back into a dragon… Still, he does remember that he mustn’t accidentally harm the little merman so he rushed far away out to a safe distance before doing so, so that Bai Lianhua wouldn’t be harmed.

And then Sachston tried to restrain himself from rolling around in happiness while looking at the merman with an embarrassed look… It was Bai Lianhua who asked him to turn into his human form specifically, but he’s too jumpy and couldn’t help turning back.

Bai Lianhua, though, tells him, “it’s alright. I just wanted to give you a hug, so that’s why. You can be whatever makes you feel comfortable; Sachston is a good dragon no matter what form you’re in.”

——He pretends not to feel any shaking of the ground the dragon produces with his gleeful tail swings that happen to slap onto the ground… The big guy really doesn’t know how to hide his mood.

Bai Lianhua looks at the dragon’s claws and comes up with a suggestion.

The dragon could dig a pond next to his nest and then make a canal connecting it to the sea, then he would have an easier time meeting him, right? They can also spend more time together.

After telling him that with a smiling expression, Bai Lianhua says, “then you could be closer to your treasure.”

Bai Lianhua suddenly feels a bit embarrassed only after he says that——Oh, dear, he’s spent too long in this world that he’s become a bit shameless, seriously calling himself a treasure like that. Oof.

Sachston seems to be excited about the idea though. He thus swings his claws about and digs and digs and digs. He quickly produces a rough prototype and then seems absolutely proud and overjoyed when the little merman praises him.

System “…”

Waaah, host, antagonist, please wake up. It’s the dragon’s claws, the classy weapon of mass destruction, how could you use it as a professional excavator?!

The system’s cries though end up falling on deaf ears.

And it’s not over yet. The dragon didn’t want the merman to despise the pond for being too ugly and be unwilling to stay for long. So when he swims back home for the day, he discreetly plans out a big surprise for the merman – he takes out the best-looking among his collection from his nest and generously plasters them at the bottom and the side of the pond’s confines like they were mere decorative stones. The whole pond now glimmers brilliantly under the sun, truly living up to the word ‘ fantastical .’

Bai Lianhua, here two days later, “…” Is this what you call ‘richness’?

No no no, this style is too much. Please give him back the minimalist pond he saw the last time around. That was good enough.

Bai Lianhua, part of the merfolk in this world, is somewhat affected by his instincts too. And let’s just say that… the merfolks’ aesthetic is quite different from the dragons who just like big and jagged pieces of rare metals and gems.

Though seeing the dragon with this expectant look on his face that’s completely at odds with his disposition, Bai Lianhua still shoos away his conscience and swims into this rather mystifying pond. Thus, his whole mer-self feels as if it’s been upgraded.

——From now on, he is no longer a simple merman either. Instead, he is a noble merman who has had a jewellery shower.

It’s a literal hole he dug for himself, so who else but he must fall into it?

The system feels the urge to mock its host again. What a rare occasion when the antagonist du jour doesn’t seem interested in limiting the personal freedom of its host but now the host decides to fall for it himself.

It says, “hehe, host, how do you feel?”

Bai Lianhua goes quiet for a moment before answering, “mm… If I get used to the fact it occasionally blinds me, then it’s alright.”

He has an awkward smile, “I don’t know why, but I kind of like the pond.” He feels inexplicably secure hanging out in the pond.

The system widens its eyes. Oh my, you like the little pond… That’s, that’s important news.

Though before it can think about anything else, Bai Lianhua continues, “I feel like the antagonist is alright this time.”

He complains to the system, “sure, he harmed the King, and he did regain the title of evil dragon, but, like, I seriously can’t feel scared around him, not at all.”

“Or rather, both the first time and this time I’ve never felt pressure from him. He’s completely different from all the other antagonists.”

“Being with him is really relaxing.”

System “…” Ho. Perhaps you’re the only one of that opinion, host.

Without pressure… Try asking any other merfolk or human?

The antagonist who looks like the next calamity-to-be only asks of his own initiative for rubs and scrubs in front of you, and shed all his dignity as a dragon.

You seriously think the antagonist would act this coquettish in front of everyone? The dragon has a front to maintain, you know.

…

Having successfully solved the antagonist’s worries, Bai Lianhua now starts thinking about how to reestablish Sachston’s reputation.

He can’t just be misunderstood forever——Even though the dragon doesn’t seem to mind.

So he gives it a thought and feels like he should just let the truth out. He starts rumours that the dragon really doesn’t want any more jewellery and only wants to be left alone on his island. It was only when the King came that broke the peace and hurt himself, or the dragon wouldn’t have done anything. He hopes this will calm down the citizenry of the Kingdom.

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