Chapter 189: The Adolescent Dark Dragon (2) "…And that's how things got tangled. You see, my kind lives an extremely long time. Because of that, the occasional one ends up going off the rails like that. Try to understand."
Charlotte sighed and took a large bite of a hot dog slathered in ketchup and mustard.
"Ugh, I thought I'd finally get to live peacefully for a while, and then trouble explodes from the most unexpected place. Who would've guessed the fool who woke me up would wake her as well? When things go wrong, they really go wrong in the worst way."
"I sincerely hope it resolves well."
"But you're surprisingly calm. A dragon! And not just any dragon—my niece, Evelyn, the one who once plunged the Francia Continent into terror!"
"Even after hearing the full story, I've never personally experienced her past atrocities, so it's hard for it to feel real."
The only dragon Jinseo had ever met was Charlotte. When he thought of "dragon," her image surfaced automatically. She possessed immense power, yet never used it to oppress or torment others. If anything, she was considerate.
She called other races "lesser beings" out of habit, yet rarely refused their help—and often helped them first.
At times she pulled rank with her age, acting like an old-fashioned elder, but given her years, it was tolerable.
Perhaps because of that, the dragon etched into Jinseo's mind was not a figure of terror, but someone almost approachable—generous once you understood her.
"You don't think all dragons are like me, do you? I'm a special case, even among dragons. Never take dragons lightly."
"It's not that I'm not worried at all. It's just that if your niece truly throws the world into crisis again, there's nothing I could do about it. So there's no point panicking."
"Maybe it's because you're from another continent. Your reaction's different. I suppose it's like when I watched dramas showing airplanes carrying hundreds of humans flying through the sky—I couldn't quite grasp it either. Growing up in different environments really does shape perception."
Charlotte nodded as if she understood, then glanced at Aston, Stella, and Jason.
"I thought she was merely a legend from ancient texts… To think the Dark Dragon Evelyn is your niece…"
"A nationwide draft may become necessary. We must urgently recall knights and soldiers on leave."
"The world… won't end, will it?"
They had long known from historical records how the Dark Dragon Evelyn had once devastated the continent. Yet since none had ever seen a dragon, many had dismissed those accounts as exaggeration or myth.
After witnessing Charlotte awaken from centuries of slumber, they could no longer do so.
Fortunately, Charlotte treated weaker races kindly and extended aid in times of danger.
But not all dragons would be like her. If Charlotte herself proved how powerful dragons truly were, then the dreadful records of Evelyn were unlikely to be false.
For those living on the Francia Continent, calm acceptance like Jinseo's was impossible.
"See? That's the normal reaction."
Charlotte looked at the three at the table with sympathetic eyes.
Fear settled heavily among them. Not a word was spoken until the break time was nearly over.
"Jinseo, break's almost over, right? I'd like to order three pepperoni pizzas… or should I come back later?"
"Long time no see! Three Tteok-Twi-Sun-Ra-Gim sets, two tubs of TwoXder, and a large bottle of cola—oh? Did something happen today?"
Customers began gathering, hesitating at the sight of Jason and Aston sitting grim-faced.
"Everyone, I'm afraid we'll have to close early today. I can't explain the details. As you can see, it's… this kind of mood."
Jinseo glanced sideways at Charlotte sitting alone at the counter.
No one dared object when a dragon was in a foul mood.
"Sigh… If she'd awakened a little later, this would've been much easier. Of all times to wake up…"
Charlotte chewed on a ShortXri stick and gulped cola.
Even she, who could usually shake off troubles with a single sip, couldn't stop sighing now.
Curious whispers spread among the gathered customers. Soon, Oswald Hamilton pushed through the crowd and hurried over.
"You're here?"
"I never imagined that man would climb the Mardin Mountain Range and do something so reckless. It is entirely my fault for failing to apprehend him before this occurred."
"Let me say this clearly—it's not your fault. No need to grovel. I'm not blaming the Doren Kingdom either. Lesser beings breaking seals they're warned not to touch isn't new. I always knew this might happen."
"Even so, someone must take responsibility—"
"That's enough. First we deal with what's happened. Assigning blame comes later. Stop acting like a criminal and sit down. Have some Ramen."
Charlotte patted the seat beside her. Oswald Hamilton hesitated but sat down.
He couldn't bring himself to order Ramen and only sipped fish cake broth.
"In the past, I could've subdued her without much effort… Maybe I'm getting old. I'm not what I used to be."
She rubbed her aching left shoulder.
Though only a red scar marked her cheek, more injuries were hidden beneath her clothes.
"Lady Charlotte, you said the Dark Dragon Evelyn is your niece?"
"She's my eldest sister's daughter. So yes."
"When did she begin acting that way?"
"There were signs when she was very young. I ignored them, thinking she was just immature. I didn't scold her much. But after she passed a thousand years old, she became increasingly unstable. Around fifteen hundred, she caused a catastrophe that shook the continent. That's when I sealed her. She was still young—but not young enough to keep excusing."
"Is that truly young by dragon standards? For humans, it's unimaginable."
"I suppose it would seem that way. There was a term in that drama you showed me… What was it? The period when teenagers shout at their parents and brood over trivial things."
"Adolescence?"
"That's it! She was exactly in adolescence!"
Jinseo found no immediate reply and looked away.
Hearing it framed that way makes it feel less apocalyptic and more troublesome.
A dragon going through a turbulent adolescence… that's hard to process.
"When she was just a hatchling, she obeyed everything I said. Then one day she stopped listening altogether. I've known her since she was still in her egg. I don't know how she grew up like that."
"An egg… I see."
Jinseo stared at Charlotte, dumbfounded.
"Honestly, if we leave her alone, she'll eventually tire herself out and retreat. It might not even take that long."
"Really?"
"Ten years, perhaps. But that's not short for you lesser beings. Last time, it took less than a year for half the continent to become a wasteland."
"Ha-half the continent…"
Oswald Hamilton's face drained of color.
"So centuries ago, we joined forces and sealed her. I could weaken her alone, but when it comes to sealing magic, lesser beings surpass me. They helped immensely."
"More effective than your magic?"
"Frankly, I could live my life unbothered by what she does. It's the lesser beings who desperately want her stopped. They researched sealing magic with relentless urgency."
Charlotte snapped her fingers.
A thick book materialized in midair and dropped onto the counter.
"There was a clever human mage. He developed a sealing spell worth using. It's recorded here."
She stroked the worn cover.
"It required so much mana that he couldn't cast it himself. I had to execute it."
"I had no idea…"
Oswald Hamilton listened, enthralled. So did the others who had drawn close behind her.
"Using that spell, we sealed her for about five hundred years. I thought by the time she woke at around two thousand years old, she'd have matured. I was wrong."
"Lady Charlotte, what exactly is being sealed like?"
"Imagine being forced into sleep despite not being tired—while fully aware you're sleeping. I thought five hundred years would change her. It didn't."
"Like lucid dreaming. But if she slept the entire five hundred years, wouldn't her mental age remain the same?"
"…Huh?"
Charlotte fell silent, chewing her snack.
The others also found nothing to say.
The briefly lightened mood grew heavy again.
"…You're right. That was my mistake. I sealed her and assumed time would fix everything. That was careless."
Time alone did not guarantee growth. Isolation could just as easily narrow one's mind.
"Anyway, she's awake. She must be sealed again. I'm weaker than before. She's stronger. Perhaps we need a hero like in the old days. If only the bloodline of the hero who fought with us a thousand years ago still exists…"
"A hero…"
Jason's eyes sparkled before Aston nudged him.
"First, we spread word of her awakening. Oswald Hamilton, report to your king. Inform me the moment she's spotted. She excels at hiding in darkness—even I struggle to sense her."
"Yes! I'll send a messenger at once! No—I'll go myself!"
Oswald Hamilton mounted a waiting horse and rode urgently toward the Doren Mage Tower.
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