Yura was doing her best again today to awaken her body, which refused to listen to her commands.
However, her body, already intoxicated by drugs and violated countless times, had no intention of obeying her.
Even though she appeared to be sitting blankly, deep inside, Yura was very much alive—wailing in grief.
“Bell…!”
She kept calling out the name of her youngest daughter, who had once been just as disoriented as she was not long ago.
“…Where did you go…?”
She wanted to call out loud and search for her, but her body only allowed her lips to move soundlessly.
The more she tried to speak, the more drool simply trickled from her open mouth.
She still remembered.
Her precious little daughter, tugging at her sleeve with bright, eager eyes.
The way she pulled on her arm, hopping impatiently to go outside—only to end up running away alone.
That image of her daughter fleeing had never once left Yura’s mind.
Before she knew it, her thoughts had wandered to a terrifying place.
Without divine protection, there was no way that fragile little child could have survived.
“…I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
For the first time, Yura’s lifeless expression shifted.
A single tear trickled down her cheek.
“My love, I’m sorry.”
“I’m truly sorry. I couldn’t keep my promise…”
The face of her husband, from whom she had been forcibly separated the day she was taken by the slave traders, resurfaced in her mind.
“I couldn’t protect the children…”
“They defiled me and the children too…”
“I’m so sorry.”
Yura looked at her eldest daughter, Ran, who sat before her.
…Ran and Bell…
She could feel the strength draining from her body.
The severe pain in her abdomen felt like it was growing distant, as if her consciousness were slipping away.
“Forgive your useless mother…”
A burning sensation spread through her lower abdomen.
Her body, broken and ravaged after being reduced to nothing more than a plaything for imperial soldiers, had finally reached its limit.
Her ruptured organs, which had been barely holding on, ultimately failed.
As she gazed at Ran, who was staring blankly into space before her, Yura slowly closed her eyes.
And at that very moment—
Creak…!
“Is this the place?”
A deep male voice, accompanied by a lizard-like cry, echoed in Yura’s ears.
“…Her condition is severe.”
“Bright One, at least perform emergency treatment. As long as she’s breathing, we can take her to Baal.”
“Understood.”
The sun was slowly setting.
As the light faded, Bell rolled around on the grassy field.
Perhaps because beastmen were used to cold climates, she seemed to have a natural resistance to the cold.
“Bell!”
“Baby dragonling!”
When I waved and called out to her from afar, Bell came dashing toward me, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug.
Then, she immediately clung to my side and began licking my cheek.
“…Hihi, that tickles.”
“Heheh.”
Seeing me laugh, Bell’s tail wagged excitedly as she grinned from ear to ear.
“Bell, are you happy?”
“Yeah! Super happy!”
I had just cleaned her up, bathed her, and dressed her in fresh clothes, but—
Once again, Bell’s hair was a complete mess, her clothes covered in dust, and even her head had dirt and grass stuck all over it.
But I didn’t find her dirty appearance unpleasant at all.
If anything, she looked incredibly cute.
Still, I couldn’t just leave Bell like this.
Her father was coming soon, and that meant she would finally reunite with her family.
The dragons had been protecting her, but if she looked this scruffy when they met again, what would that say about us?
“Bell, you know you’re going to see your family soon, right?”
“Yeah! Thanks! It’s all because the dragonlings helped!”
Bell beamed and pulled me into a tight hug.
I gently patted her back as I continued speaking.
“When you see your family, you can’t be all covered in dirt, okay?”
“Eh… really…?”
“I’m not scolding you, so don’t look so down.”
At my words, Bell’s drooping tail perked up again and began wagging excitedly.
“First, let’s go to Mom and get cleaned up, then we’ll wait inside. You’ll catch a cold if you stay out here too long.”
“Gasp! If baby dragonlings catch a cold, they might get sick… Is baby dragonling okay?”
“Uh, yeah, I’m fine.”
Bell stared at me with a concerned expression.
Even after I reassured her, she still looked doubtful but eventually nodded reluctantly.
“Let’s go inside quick! We don’t want baby dragonling getting sick!”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
I had successfully convinced her.
As we entered the castle, many of the servants noticed us and greeted us with warm smiles.
“Princess!”
“Kyaaah!”
“Oh no, she’s too cute.”
“…I’m so glad I work here.”
“This is the real reward.”
“I need a boyfriend… No, I need to get married, ASAP.”
For some reason, everyone’s expressions softened, and some even seemed to be making major life decisions.
I wasn’t exactly sure why they were saying all this in front of me and Bell, but I smiled at them as a way of encouragement.
“Kyaaaah!!”
“…!!”
“Princess!!”
“We love you~!!”
They looked like they were about to lose their minds.
I suddenly felt like a super popular alpha male or something.
Holding back a smug grin, I squeezed Bell’s hand tightly.
“Hehe, dragonling feels good?”
Bell giggled, somehow knowing exactly how I felt, and leaned in closer with a mischievous smile.
I simply nodded.
“Let’s hurry!”
“Yeah!”
The sun was beginning to set.
Her father would probably arrive today.
I couldn’t let him see her like this.
I had to get our little puppy all cleaned up.
After all, her original guardian was about to come looking for her.
‘She needs to be spotless and dressed nicely so they’ll see she was well cared for.’
They must have been worried sick.
If only I could use cleaning magic…
But I couldn’t, and that frustrated me.
‘I hope I can learn magic soon.’
With that thought, I quickened my short little legs and dashed toward the room where my mom was waiting.
—At the same time, in another part of the world—
Minho was taking Bell to Erses.
Meanwhile, Albinus stood before the imperial stronghold, a displeased expression on his face.
‘…How should I make these bastards suffer even more?’
At home, he was usually calm and gentle, a devoted husband and father who adored his wife and daughters.
This passage describes a dark and intense moment in the story, where Albinus contemplates the destruction of an empire that has inflicted suffering upon his loved ones.
Albinus was deep in thought, seriously contemplating how best to bring this vast empire to ruin.
Before his marriage, he had been a wild and reckless individual, always looking for excitement.
It was fortunate that Emila’s memories of him were softened by nostalgia—otherwise, she might have remembered things quite differently.
Of course, he had never harmed Emila in any way.
As her uncle, he had always tried to do right by her.
Even now, as her unexpected father, he continued to protect and care for her.
But in this moment, his old, untamed self was resurfacing.
‘They dared to lay hands on my daughters? Both of them?!’
And not just them—his youngest daughter’s two friends had suffered as well.
Ramir had sustained a severe head injury when entering the kingdom, and her newly made friend was a former slave.
He had already crushed the emperor beneath his own foot, yet his anger remained unquenched.
‘Forget the details. I’ll just wipe it all out.’
[Title: Dragon Lord Activated!]
A crimson light gathered at Albinus’s fingertips.
Just as he was about to unleash destruction, a voice interrupted.
“Hey! What are you doing?!”
“Damn.”
Albinus had been caught by Surtr.
He quickly closed his hand, swallowing the surging power before it could be released.
‘Tch, why did he have to show up so soon?’
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Albinus sighed.
“Ahem. Your Majesty,” Surtr cleared his throat, using formal speech since they were outside the dragon’s domain.
He had accidentally spoken too casually at first, looking slightly flustered.
Not wanting to embarrass him further, Albinus swiftly responded.
“Give me your report.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Surtr bowed once before beginning.
“The number of beastkin slaves imprisoned beneath the imperial fortress is approximately 700.”
“…They truly indulged themselves, didn’t they?”
“And that number does not include the deceased.”
“…How many bodies?”
“Around 1,300.”
“Hah.”
Albinus let out a bitter chuckle.
The empire’s illegal slave trade was massive.
There were rumors that half of the imperial economy relied on it.
‘I thought they were simply selling people to underground organizations for profit…’
But he had never expected that the empire itself would be enslaving its own people for forced labor.
His expression darkened.
“The men and women were kept strictly separated. As for Princess’s friend Bell—her family has been found alive.”
“That’s a relief.”
“However, her mother is in critical condition. We administered emergency treatment, but…”
“Even with your abilities, it’s not enough?”
“I believe we’ll need Baal’s power, Your Majesty.”
“…We don’t have much time, then.”
“We’ve stopped the bleeding, but at this point, even Baal’s magic may not be enough to restore her mind.”
“……”
Once a beastkin was enslaved, their soul suffered irreversible damage.
Even if their body healed, their mind often never recovered.
‘…We need to go. We have to at least try.’
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Surtr immediately ordered the royal guards to evacuate the freed beastkin from the empire.
Those in stable condition would be sent to the Beastkin Autonomous Territory, while those who required extended care would remain in treatment.
Time was not on their side if they wanted to save everyone.
‘…I can’t let that poor child suffer even more.’
With a heavy heart, Albinus decided to postpone the complete destruction of the imperial stronghold.
He quickened his pace.
“All forces! Evacuate the beastkin from the empire!”
“Move as fast as possible!”
His soldiers responded with a thunderous roar.
>This passage describes a dark and intense moment in the story, where Albinus contemplates the destruction of an empire that has inflicted suffering upon his loved ones.
Is this a mistake or no?