Chapter 96

2024/6/7 Vol. 3 Release!

The next day, Marion arrived at the lakeside villa.

After breakfast, we went out to the villa's garden to play. There were many servants' quarters near the garden, and many servants were around.

So, Mother allowed us to play in the garden, thinking it would be safe.

"It's such a nice day, Luria!"

Sara, holding a wooden doll, said happily. The sky was clear and sunny, as if the heavy rain from the previous days had never happened.

"Yeah! It feels so good!"

I walked along, tapping the ground with a wooden stick in my right hand as a precaution. This stick was a cool one I had obtained when we first arrived at the lakeside villa.

"Rya~"

"Loa, does it feel good? It's nice to get some sun."

I placed the guardian spirit and red baby dragon, Spirit King Loa, on my head with my left hand. Loa flapped its wings happily.

Behind us, the Water Dragon Duke followed.

"The blue sky is beautiful."

The Water Dragon Duke took a deep breath and wagged his tail, looking very content.

"The air is delicious too."

The Water Dragon Duke had been sealed for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years, a very long time. He had been released from the seal just yesterday.

So, the blue sky and the gentle breeze must be very enjoyable for him.

"Take in lots of air."

"Waf~ waf waf waf!"

Daw, a large dog, was playfully nuzzling the Water Dragon Duke's tail. Even though Daw was bigger than the Water Dragon Duke in human form, he didn't seem to mind.

The Water Dragon Duke, without even looking at Daw, was swatting him with his tail. He was quite skilled with his tail.

"Kyu~" "Koko"

Behind Daw, there were the prairie dog, Cary, and the chicken, Korko. Cary told Daw, "Don't play so much," and Korko said, "You'll get covered in mud."

"Waf~"

But Daw didn't care at all. Due to the heavy rain from the previous days, there were many puddles in the garden.

— Splash, splash

Ignoring the puddles, Daw was happily nuzzling the Water Dragon Duke's tail.

"... Already brown"

Daw's body was already 70% covered in mud. It would be difficult to clean him. Mother would surely be angry. I would have to protect him when that happens.

Actually, before going out to the garden, I should have warned him not to get covered in mud. But it was too late now.

"No, I have to find a way to clean him up..."

If there was clean water, I could wash off the mud from Daw. It would be good to avoid getting scolded.

"Hmm"

"Luria, what do you want to play?"

"... First, we'll investigate the garden."

"Investigate? What do you mean?"

"Traps and pitfalls... and clean water."

I walked along, tapping the ground with the wooden stick.

"Water? Why?"

"To wash Daw."

"Oh... I see."

Sara seemed to understand. I walked carefully to avoid getting my clothes dirty.

"Luria, why are you tapping the ground with the stick?"

"To find pitfalls."

"Pitfalls!"

The Water Dragon Duke seemed excited by the word "pitfall" and wagged his tail vigorously. As a result, Daw's movements became even more vigorous, and he got even more mud on him.

"Daw, the Water Dragon Duke will get covered in mud!"

"Waf?"

"It's fine! Just be careful not to get Luria and Sara's clothes dirty."

As he said, the Water Dragon Duke's clothes remained completely clean, despite the mud.

"... He must be dodging the mud at an invisible speed."

"Water Dragon Duke, you're amazing."

Sara looked at the Water Dragon Duke with admiration.

"Sara, we have to be careful not to get our clothes dirty."

"Yeah, washing is a lot of work."

The clothes I was wearing were hand-me-downs from my brother Gilbert, which were easy to move in and had many pockets.

"Sara, your clothes are cute too."

"Really? Hehe."

Sara was wearing new exercise clothes that had just arrived that morning, designed specifically for her. The design was similar to the hand-me-downs I was wearing.

But there was a hole for her tail, which was different. The clothes the Water Dragon Duke was wearing were also similar to the men's clothes we were wearing.

The design was completely different from what he wore yesterday.

"Where did the Water Dragon Duke get his clothes?"

"Um. The Water Dragon Duke's clothes are clean today."

"Hehe? Hehehe. Really? I made them myself."

"Amazing!"

"Really? You made them yourself? Did you sew them?"

Sara's eyes sparkled.

"No, just watch."

As he said this, the Water Dragon Duke's clothes changed back to what he wore yesterday.

"Huh? Amazing!" "Wow!"

"Waf waf waf waf!"

Not only us, but Daw was also excited. The Water Dragon Duke's clothes quickly changed back to today's men's-style clothes.

"I make my clothes with magic."

"Oh. Magic."

"Magic can do that?"

"Yes. I am big, so cloth clothes would tear."

"Indeed... Indeed..."

Both Sara and I nodded in agreement.

Every time he changed from human form to dragon form, his clothes would tear. That would be very wasteful.

"Because of magic, I don't need to wash my clothes, and mud doesn't stick to them!"

"Wow. I'm jealous."

"Being able to wear as many cute clothes as you want is amazing."

Both Sara and I felt jealous, but for different reasons. My jealousy was about being able to play in the mud.

"... Maybe Luria should practice making clothes with magic too."

"Hmm? I can teach you if you want."

"Really? Isn't the Water Dragon Duke busy?"

The Water Dragon Duke thought for a moment and then said softly.

"Wait a bit."

The Water Dragon Duke had a serious expression.

"Waf~ waf waf waf waf!"

"Here, here, here," "Kyu kyu ikyu"

Daw and the others were asking, "What's wrong, what's wrong?" Cary was on the Water Dragon Duke's shoulder, and Korko was on his head.

"Water Dragon Duke, what's wrong?"

"Calling me Water Dragon Duke is too formal! I want to be called with a 'chan' suffix too."

"Water Dragon Duke-chan?"

When Sara said this, the Water Dragon Duke shook his head vigorously. His tail also moved, making Daw happy.

"No! Water Dragon Duke is like a position or an official title for humans."

"Indeed... Indeed..."

Sara and I said in unison.

"Like calling the king 'King-chan'?"

Or like calling the Duke 'Duke-chan'.

"Yes. Sara is smart."

"Does the Water Dragon Duke have a name?"

"No. I want you to think of one for me."

That was a difficult task.

"Hmm. Should it be a dragon-like name?"

"Or a cute name?"

We discussed what kind of name the Water Dragon Duke should have.

"Should it be water-related?"

"Cute is better."

"I like cute names too."

"Waf waf," "Koko," "Kyu~," "Rya~"

Daw and the others were also thinking hard.

"Bau!"

"Bau doesn't quite fit the image," "I don't think it fits."

"Kohko?"

"Kohko might be nice."

"No, I don't think so."

"What about Leonardo?"

"That's one Mother likes, but it's not cute."

We thought for about five minutes. I kept suggesting ideas as they came to me.

"Water, Water Dragon Duke, Dragon... Duke? Hmm. Su-chan!"

Su-chan felt right. The Water Dragon Duke is made of water, so Su-chan.

"Oh, it might be cute."

"It's cute! I like it!"

"Waf?" "Ko?" "Kyu kyu" "Ryum"

The name Su was decided because the Water Dragon Duke liked it.

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