The raw stated ‘Oppa,’ but I changed it just like the previous reason. Oppa is how younger sibling (female) call their older sibling (male) in Korea.
’! Ren is a girl!” “No, Ren is definitely a boy! With such a gallant appearance, it has to be a boy!”
“…
Ppeuiii
!
Ppeui
!” [This silly conversation is definitely the Silver Hawk Knights! I’m back!]
“
Huh
? That sounds like Ren!”
“Let’s see!”
The members ran toward the direction of Ren’s voice.
It was the end of the annex corridor, a place decorated like a small temple’s prayer room. The space was made entirely of white marble, with a large window creating a cozy atmosphere. On the platform, where sunlight poured in through the window, was a small dragon statue.
“I’ve never been here before. Was there a room like this…? Ren!”
“It’s Ren!”
“
Hahaha
! We finally found you! Come here, our little cutie~ Get a kiss from Uncle Hendrik!”
“
Ppuaek
,” Ren freaked out and ran away from the big men approaching it.
“Stop right there!”
“For disappearing without permission, you’ll get as many kisses as the time you were gone!”
Ren glanced back at the knights thundering behind it, and a smile of joy spread across its face. Though it was running away like when being chased by torture magic earlier, this was far more enjoyable than before.
Finally returning to the banquet hall, Ren found Maxion lying alone on the central table. Ren approached and tapped Maxion’s ankle with the ring it had in its mouth. The magic stone in the ring emitted a faint light and then attached itself to Maxion’s ankle.
“…
Umm
.”
Ren smiled with satisfaction and sat beside the stirring Maxion.
Soon, the knights burst in, making the surroundings noisy. Maxion, waking up to the sudden commotion, furrowed his brows and sat up. The first thing he saw was Ren.
“…I fell asleep from the drink. Ren, did you behave?”
“
Ppi? Ppii. Fwee.
”
Ren whistled and looked away. But the knights crowded around Maxion, telling him all about Ren’s disappearance and their search for it.
“Ren was rummaging through the trash, I tell you!”
“Guess what, this little one is a female!”
“Ren is a male!”
“…I have no idea what you’re saying.” Maxion sighed and picked up Ren, placing it on his lap.
“
Ah
? You found Ren? Thank goodness. I was about to wake His Excellency.” Robin, back from the annex, looked relieved as he saw Ren on Maxion’s lap.
Maxion, noticing the only sober knight, asked him to translate the drunks’ chatter. “…So that’s what happened.”
“I see. We won’t know where he went until Lord Edward wakes up.”
“
Ppii
.” [No.]
Maxion looked at Ren in surprise. “Just now…”
“
Ppiii.
” [Now even the lowly human Maxion can understand me.]
“I feel like I understand what Ren is saying.”
Robin looked shocked, glancing between Ren and Maxion. “After staying close for so long, have you finally started to communicate with Ren?”
“…I guess so.”
“
Ppit
.” [Idiot.]
When Ren waved its arms as if asking to be put down, Maxion obediently lowered it to the floor. Ren headed towards Maxion’s ankle and tapped the ring with his front paw.
“
Ppiiii. Ppii. Ppi.
” [I found this under the mansion. It seems like Ron left it. It has various functions, including translation.]
“Finding it in the mansion means it belongs to Lord Edward?”
“
Ppit
?” [So… what?]
“…We have to return it.”
Maxion tried to remove the ring but couldn’t find a way to unlock it.
“
Ppii. Ppiiippi.
” [You can’t. It won’t come off unless the dragon who put it on removes it.]
“Remove it.”
“
Ppi
!” [No!]
“…Why?”
“
Ppii ppi
.” [With this, even human Maxion can understand me now.]
“That doesn’t mean you can just take it. If it’s something only a dragon can wear, it must be a precious treasure. Take it off now.”
“
Ppii
!” [Nooo!]
Hmph!
Ren snorted and turned its head away in a huff.
While they were bickering, the knights started their second round of drinking. And thus, the first day of the new year came to an end.
* * *
By the time everyone except Maxion, Ren, and Robin had become a mess, Edward reappeared in the banquet hall. He waved the note Robin had left and asked, “Did you find Ren?”
“Yes, we did,” Robin answered nonchalantly, setting down his beer mug.
Edward’s lips curled into a natural smile. “The report was quite uninformative. ‘Ren disappeared, but we’ll find it, so please rest well.’”
“We’re not incompetent enough to wake His Excellency on the first day of the new year.”
“Thanks to that, I slept well. I’m glad to see everyone had a good time. And Maxion survived till the end too.”
“Welcome back.” Maxion, petting the sleeping Ren on his lap, greeted Edward.
“Looks like Hendrik didn’t play any pranks this time. Seeing as you’re still in one piece.”
“He got drunk and sobered up midway. But there’s something additional to report.”
“What is it?”
“Ren found a suspicious ring in the mansion, and it’s not an ordinary item.”
Maxion carefully placed Ren on a cushion and showed the ring on his ankle. He then reported everything, including how Ren found the ring under the mansion and refused to take it off.
“I see. Just by looking at it, you can tell it’s enchanted with multiple spells. Judging by the mana in the central magic stone, it seems like something a dragon made.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll find a way to remove it.”
“It’s fine. You keep it. Consider it a New Year’s gift.”
“Pardon?”
Edward continued nonchalantly. “There’s a legend passed down in the Lindeman family that there’s a dragon’s gift hidden in the capital’s mansion. The first Duke of Lindeman was best friends with the first emperor and received this item from him. I suspect it’s from the White Dragon.”
“So it wasn’t an ordinary item after all. I’ll try to persuade Ren to remove it. Or even cut off my ankle if I have to…”
“If Ren hadn’t found it, it would have remained just a legend. If you can hear Ren’s voice, that would be a welcome development for me as well.”
“…”
“And the fact that it’s an ankle ring is quite interesting. Do you know the meaning of an anklet?”
“I don’t.”
As Maxion looked at Edward blankly, Edward smiled and explained.
“It means ‘You’re mine.’ It originated from shackles used to prevent slaves from escaping by attaching heavy weights. Later, it evolved into a gift given to a lover by someone, symbolizing possessiveness.”
“…So that means.” Robin, who had been listening quietly, spoke up as if he had realized something. “Since it can’t be removed by the wearer, it’s easy to misunderstand it as having a very possessive lover!”
“Exactly.”
Edward nodded, and Maxion, with a stern face, hurriedly woke Ren.
“Ren, wake up. Please move it somewhere else.”
Snore, snore…
Unaware of Maxion’s distress, Ren slept soundly, feeling content after a fulfilling day.
Of course, Ren never removed the ankle ring afterward.
It was sometime later.
“
Ppi-
!
Ppi
!” [My slave-! Charge!]
“…I preferred it when I couldn’t understand you,” Maxion muttered as he cared for Ren, who was playing hero on its head.
SWNOVELXO