A girl with long golden hair cascading down her back leaned against the table, gazing out the window.
Her emerald-green eyes were unfocused, staring blankly into empty space.
It was Professor Irien.
Her belly was noticeably swollen.
She gently stroked it, and the magic surrounding her shimmered lightly, carrying a sense of happiness.
This was the result of my efforts.
Feeling a swell of pride in my chest, I nodded in satisfaction.
It seemed today’s lunch had been to her liking.
After all, she had devoured three bowls.
The time I had invested had been well worth it.
As a cook, and as a servant, there was nothing more joyful than seeing my master happy.
With that warm satisfaction, I looked at the professor.
That was when she turned her gaze toward me.
Somehow, her eyes felt different than before.
It was as if they held the knowledge of all the world’s truths.
She seemed to need tea.
Quickly, I prepared refreshments and presented them to her.
As I tilted the teapot over her empty cup, the fresh aroma of the tea spread into the air.
It was a scent that calmed the mind.
Her face softened even more as she closed her eyes and savored the fragrance.
However, she did not move her hands.
Perhaps it was because of how full she was.
The sheer amount of food she had consumed must have made it difficult for her to move.
My eyes sharpened.
In that case, I had to assist her.
That was the duty of a servant chosen by their master.
Carefully, I used my magic to lift the teacup and brought it to her lips.
She naturally parted them and accepted the tea, sipping it slowly.
Soon, she gave a small nod.
It seemed she approved.
Her body sank deeper into the chair.
As a light dessert, I placed a translucent piece of ice in her mouth.
It melted quickly on her tongue.
Her expression grew even more dazed.
It was a kind of ice cream, crafted from condensed clouds.
The cool texture mixed with the lingering tea, cleansing her palate.
Watching her, I nodded to myself.
I had been mistaken all this time.
‘How could I have let the professor move her fingers herself? ‘That was unacceptable.
Even such simple tasks should be my responsibility.
That was what a true servant should do.
With that noble resolution in mind, I naturally fed her another bite of dessert.
She absentmindedly accepted it.
Each of my actions carried my utmost dedication—solely for her satisfaction.
At the same time, I traced several circuits onto the chair.
The magic infused within it wove together, enveloping her body.
The spells gently massaged her, easing her fatigue.
As comfort washed over her, her expression softened even more, and a faint smile began to form on her lips.
Seeing that, I, too, let out a pleased smile.
Now, ice cream.
Next, another sip of tea.
And so, the professor continued to chew and sip without pause.
***
‘How much time had passed?’
Her once-swollen belly gradually began to settle.
Like a baby bird, she had simply accepted everything I offered.
Then, her body gave a small shudder.
She blinked vacantly, glancing around.
Looking down at herself, then at the treats I had presented using magic, she hesitated.
Soon, clarity returned to her eyes.
She turned to me, her brows slightly furrowed, a hint of unease in her expression.
Seeing that, I carefully opened my mouth.
“Did I do something wrong? For me to cause even the slightest crease on your esteemed face—please, tell me, and I will correct it at once.”
As I spoke, I lightly placed my hand over my chest.
Her frown deepened.
It seemed she did not understand my sincerity.
Feeling a pang of regret, I briefly closed my eyes.
“…I swear, it feels like you ate something weird,” the professor muttered, eyeing me warily as she nudged the teacup away with a single finger.
“What’s with you? You’re acting completely out of character. If you want something, just say it.”
‘Was she… worried about me?’
How truly gracious of her.
I shook my head lightly.
“What could I possibly desire? I am simply filled with gratitude for the blessing you have bestowed upon me.”
The professor’s expression grew increasingly exasperated.
It seemed she did not believe me.
For her to doubt me over something so trivial… I reflected on my own actions.
‘Had I been too negligent in my devotion to her?’
But every word I spoke was the truth.
Because now, I understood her true nature.
And I realized just how great an opportunity I had been given.
Thus, I had to show her even greater respect.
I no longer feared the university’s mages.
I was no longer the wandering sorcerer I had once been.
I had ascended to a higher level.
‘Who would dare challenge me now?’
‘When a dragon stood behind me?’
Yes.
She was a dragon.
And I was the steward she had personally appointed.
‘Who was I?’
The dragon’s devoted servant.
The realization filled my chest with unshakable pride.
The professor felt different now.
No—’what was I saying? Different?’ That was impossible.
I had always held deep respect for her.
Yes, my memory was clear.
She was my mentor.
My master.
My unwavering loyalty had never changed since the day I met her.
“…Seriously, what is wrong with you?”
The professor rubbed her forehead in frustration.
One day, she would understand my sincerity.
Believing that, I quietly closed my eyes.
***
There was no doubt—Professor Irien was no ordinary mage.
That was something I had suspected even before coming to the university.
Her appearance, her magic—everything about her was extraordinary.
But I had never felt the need to investigate further.
Who she truly was didn’t matter, as long as I upheld our contract.
At least, that was how I used to think.
But then, things changed.
When the new term began, I felt a strange sense of unease.
The professor had stopped using violence.
Instead, she had become… kind.
I wanted to understand why.
And so, I began to gather clues.
Eventually, I found the answer.
It was because of the treasure’s magic that had started to seep into my body.
But then, another question arose—’why was she kind to the treasure?’
In the past, I wouldn’t have bothered asking.
I would have simply left it at that.
But I could no longer suppress my curiosity about her.
Just as she had changed, I, too, had become drawn to her.
A natural flow, created by the magic of the treasure.
As I continued my investigation, I gradually began to piece things together.
And about a week ago, I confirmed it beyond a doubt—
Professor Irien was a dragon.
That day remained vivid in my memory.
That day, Mira held up the carving knife I had entrusted to her.
Lifting it in both hands, she gave a light smile.
“Yes, just as you suspected. This belongs to Professor Irien.”
“Is that so?”
I nodded quietly.
The reason I had given her the carving knife was simple—
I had sensed traces of the professor’s magic within it.
And I was likely the only one who could perceive it.
For six months, Mira had examined it on my behalf, carefully tracing its origins.
Using her keen senses, she had painstakingly linked the scent of the knife to the professor herself.
“It’s truly fascinating. The unique scent of Scalebound is so distinct. If Evron hadn’t told me in advance, I wouldn’t have even guessed it belonged to the professor.”
Scalebound—an accurate term.
This was an object created from a transformed scale.
And just as she had perceived, it indeed belonged to Professor Irien.
That meant only one thing: Professor Irien was a Scalebound.
“I knew she wasn’t human, but I never imagined she was a dragon. How interesting. I didn’t expect all of Evron’s guesses to be true.”
She handed the carving knife back to me.
As I tucked it away, I let out a wry smile.
I hadn’t expected it to be real either.
But now, I was certain.
There was only one being who was beloved by treasures and loved them in return.
A dragon. It was undeniable—Professor Irien was a dragon.
Her presence at the university was proof enough.
After all, non-humans were forbidden from entering.
Or rather, according to the Empire’s terminology, they were considered monsters.
The continent was home to many non-human species.
Some resembled humans, while others were a blend of different beings.
The Empire, however, strictly regarded them as monsters.
Their entry was prohibited, interaction with them was banned, and their magic was forbidden.
But, of course, such rules could never be perfectly enforced.
The continent was vast, and the Empire, which occupied half of it, was no different.
That was why non-humans could still be found within the Empire.
They roamed the outskirts beyond the cities.
I had encountered them more than once myself.
Through those interactions, I came to understand why the Empire treated them as monsters.
Non-humans were born with magic within them—just like monsters.
Their way of thinking differed from humans.
Their natural abilities did as well.
In a society where even swordsmen were viewed as inferior to magic-wielders, there was no place for non-humans.
So the Empire rejected them.
And within the Empire’s very heart—this university—that sentiment was even stronger.
Here, non-humans couldn’t even take the entrance exams.
Even so, there were a few exceptions.
Some non-humans were not classified as monsters by the Empire.
The turtle I once dreamed of crafting was one such case.
And dragons—like the professor—were another.
They all had one thing in common.
An overwhelming power.
***
A dragon. The very word carried an undeniable aura of magic.
Just thinking about it made my heart tremble.
“Fufu, you must be quite pleased. It’s written all over your face.”
Mira chuckled as she spoke.
Scratching my cheek, I looked at her.
Pleased… Maybe.
The moment I became certain the professor was a dragon, I felt myself drawn to her even more.
“Yes, I suppose I can sense it, even if only partially. It’s a strange feeling.”
I clenched and unclenched my hand as I spoke.
In many legends and stories, dragons were always symbols of absolute power.
They were often portrayed as the masters of treasures.
And as if to prove those tales true, dragons possessed a natural affinity for drawing treasures toward them.
It was an instinct embedded in their very bloodline.
“I feel the same. Now I’m even more curious about what her heart looks like. I wonder what kind of expression Irien will make when I finally hold her heart in my hands.”
Mira placed a hand over her own chest, as if feeling the beat of her heart through her skin.
Slowly, her face grew flushed.
Even after learning that she was a dragon, she still refused to give up on her? I let out a bitter smile at her unyielding ambition.
Her heart… Now that I thought about it, there was a certain rumor.
That at the very center of the university lay the heart of a dragon.
It was a rather plausible tale.
Very few things could generate the boundless magic required to sustain such an immense space.
Only something like a dragon’s heart could do so.
Dragons were born complete.
They grew naturally, simply by existing within the flow of time.
And that was exactly what our professor was.
Now, I finally understood the source of her seemingly endless magic.
I fell into deep thought, then blinked.
‘Wait a minute—had I just hit the jackpot? Not just in terms of my place at the university, but in my life as a mage?’
She had appointed me as the keeper of her storeroom.
Entrusted her treasures to me.
Yes, I was the guardian of a dragon’s treasure hoard.
Her trusted confidant.
I never expected the professor to consider me so important.
A deep sense of gratitude filled me at the weight of the responsibility she had given me.
Feeling the surge of loyalty and pride welling within, I nodded firmly to myself.
That had been a week ago.
Since then, I had dedicated myself entirely to the professor.
***
“Why are you doing this? Explain yourself.”
A voice rang in my ears, pulling me from my sleep.
I slowly opened my eyes.
The professor was looking at me with a displeased expression.
I scratched my cheek absentmindedly.
It seemed I had gone a little overboard.
I felt somewhat wronged—after all, I had only been trying to serve her.
And yet, she was suspicious of me first?
The professor stared at me in silence.
I cautiously gauged her mood.
The magic around her was beginning to stir, growing dangerously intense.
She was determined to get to the bottom of this.
Unlike before, she wouldn’t let it slide today.
“…Then, if I may, I’d like to ask you one question.”
Meeting her gaze, I spoke quietly.
At my words, the oppressive pressure of her magic lessened slightly.
She gave me a small nod, signaling for me to continue.
I swallowed dryly and carefully opened my mouth.
Come to think of it, there was no reason for me to keep what I had learned a secret.
The best way to confirm the truth was to ask her directly.
“Professor… Are you a dragon?”
At my question, the professor choked, coughing violently.
What had started as a light cough soon worsened, growing uncontrollable.
I pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the corners of her mouth.
Then, as I was about to cleanse it with magic, I hesitated.
I stared at the handkerchief in my hand.
‘Hmm… Technically, this was the saliva of a dragon, wasn’t it?’
Suddenly, I felt a surge of interest.
‘Maybe I should study it. I might discover something fascinating.’
Entertaining the thought, I discreetly sealed the handkerchief within a protective barrier and tucked it away.
I looked at the professor’s bewildered expression and nodded to myself.
As expected, I had been right all along.
A deep sense of satisfaction filled me.