Chapter 42 : Throwing the Cup as a Signal

Aurina writhed in pain, muttering to herself, “It doesn’t hurt much more than the goblin brothers’ punches, does it?”

The bald goblin trio had emerged from their pack when Aurina tried to breathe fire, landing three brutal blows to her stomach that stopped her cold.

Richard had witnessed Frostsilver’s “Disintegration” spell before.

She claimed that with a bit of luck, even a dragon could be reduced to half its form.

He’d never seen her use it on a dragon, but along their adventures, no enemy hiding behind their allies had ever withstood her spell.

A single point of her finger meant annihilation in the most literal sense—enemies turned to dust.

How could she be outdone by mere goblins?

There was only one explanation…

“I’m sorry,” Richard said, sheathing his longsword quickly.

“I didn’t realize you two were just playing around.”

For some reason, Frostsilver’s face grew colder, as if frost were forming on her brow.

“Aurina!”

Richard scolded, turning to the dragon sprawled across the table, her snow-white lower back exposed to him.

“Spit out her belongings, now!”

Frostsilver added, “Hmph, I’m only giving you a warning because of Richard, the famed dragon-slaying hero. Hand over my property, or else.”

Aurina twisted her head, glanced at her own back, and seemed even more convinced of her opponent’s weakness.

“Fine,” she said.

She made a show of retching, but as her head dipped, she lunged for the precious necklace around Frostsilver’s neck.

“Gah!”

A sharp pain shot through the base of her tail, and her entire body crashed to the floor.

Aurina reached desperately for the necklace, worth over two thousand gold coins, but two iron-clad hands seized her under the arms, pinning her in place.

“Gah! Two thousand seven hundred gold!”

Aurina’s fingertips grazed the necklace, nearly snatching it.

“Aurina!”

Richard finally freed a hand, clenching his right fist like iron.

The fight was over.

Aurina curled up, clutching her head, and went limp in his arms, motionless.

“Hmph, truly the daughter of the Dread Dragon,”

Frostsilver said, her gaze on Aurina sharp enough to tear her to shreds and devour the pieces.

“She’s inherited her father’s insatiable greed.”

Richard demanded, “Spit out Frostsilver’s things, now.”

“No, they’re mine,” Aurina whined.

Richard rapped her head several times.

“Gah.”

Aurina played dead—literally.

Her legs and tail dangled lifelessly, her eyes rolled back, though her teeth remained tightly clenched.

Panicked, Richard held her up, her legs swinging in the air, and leaned close to her face.

Feeling her hot breath, he chuckled in exasperation.

“Dead things don’t breathe.”

Aurina immediately held her breath.

“Enough, Richard,” Frostsilver said coldly.

“I don’t have time to watch you play house with a juvenile dragon. Here’s a deal: hand her over to the Emperor of Yanting. He’ll clear your debts for her. My informants say he’s after this dragon.”

Richard frowned.

“Aurina isn’t my property.”

“So, you’re saying you’ll defy the Emperor?”

“What else can I do?”

“Fine,” Frostsilver said.

“Beat her. Red dragons only understand violence—nothing else. Beat her until she coughs up my treasure.”

It’s no ordinary silver jug; it produces five kilograms of wine or twenty kilograms of clean water daily.

“If you make her give it up, I’ll help you and cover a thousand gold coins of your debt. How’s that?”

Richard hesitated, looking at Aurina, her head and tail drooping in his arms.

“But she’s still a child.”

Frostsilver scoffed.

“The Hellknight—what’s his name?”

 Oh, right, Pea-Eye—had it right.

Your Hand of Tyr is laughably soft for all its talk of order.

That’s why you’re in this mess.

“Look at this dragon. So small, yet she’s already lording over you. You know nothing of dragonkind. When a dragon rides atop another creature, it’s a sign of conquest. I bet in her eyes, you’re just a pack mule. Use your Truth Domain and ask her if you don’t believe me.”

Richard wavered.

“But… what if I hit her and she still doesn’t give it up?”

“Keep hitting,” Frostsilver said.

“Until she’s dazed and unconscious. Then I can retrieve my property from her dimensional stomach.”

“That’s too cruel.”

“You’re weak, Richard,” Frostsilver sneered.

“I told you, chaotic evil creatures like red dragons only remember pain. If you don’t discipline her, she’ll see you as weak, foolish prey. This isn’t my opinion—it’s from the renowned dragon scholar…”

She raised a hand, and a translucent green bookshelf materialized like an illusion.

An ancient tome floated into her grasp.

“…White Terror, my thirteenth ancestor, page one hundred thirty-one, on red dragon behavior.”

The book flipped open on its own, and Frostsilver held it out for Richard to see. Sure enough, it was as she said.

“Beat her,” Frostsilver commanded.

“It’s the only way to teach a dragon properly.”

Richard raised his iron fist, warning, “Aurina, if you keep insulting my intelligence, I’ll spank you right now.”

Aurina held her breath, still as a statue.

“Hit her head,” Frostsilver said, producing an iron rod from nowhere.

“Don’t hold back. It’s my gift to you. I’ll stop you if she’s in real danger. No one knows dragons better than I do.”

Richard took the rod, hesitated, then handed it back.

“I’ll use my knuckles.”

Bang bang bang bang bang!

Aurina’s head rang like a drum.

“It hurts!” she wailed, clutching her head.

“The dragon’s really dead, little bug, really!”

“She’s still mocking you,” Frostsilver said, enchanting the rod with magic.

“Tap her head slowly.”

Richard gripped the rod, then sighed.

“Forget it. How about I compensate you?”

“Can you afford it?”

“How much?”

“At least eight thousand nine hundred gold coins.”

“Eight thousand nine hundred! It’s worth that much?”

“It’s not just its value,” Frostsilver said.

“It’s my dignity and patience. I’ve held back only for your sake.”

“I…”

“Ten thousand gold coins,” Frostsilver said.

“Beat her, and I’ll cover ten thousand of your debt.”

“No.”

Richard returned the rod to the table.

“I’ll find out its value later and send you the gold.”

“You think you can offend me and still expect my help?”

Frostsilver threatened.

“I can just as easily aid the Emperor of Yanting.”

“Then do it,” Richard said, placing the rod down.

“I can’t do this. Goodbye, Frostsilver.”

He turned and walked away.

Frostsilver watched calmly as he descended the stairs, passed the screen, his footsteps fading into the distance.

“Stop.”

Richard paused at the door.

“I can’t win with you,” Frostsilver said.

“For the sake of our years as teammates, I was testing you. Come back, Richard.”

He returned, cradling Aurina, and climbed the stairs.

“Give me the dragon to raise,” Frostsilver said.

“I love dragons. Let’s talk this out peacefully. If you’re worried, we can travel to the capital together, and you can see how I handle her. How’s that?”

Richard glanced at the iron rod on the table.

“I’m afraid you’ll beat her to death.”

“I won’t,” Frostsilver assured him.

“I actually like her—she’s got a dragon’s virtues. Besides, you have a fiancée, don’t you? Dragging a dragon around isn’t exactly convenient.”

Richard nodded.

“True. I don’t seem to be teaching her well.”

“You can supervise,” Frostsilver said.

“We’ll head to the capital and see if we can settle your debt with the Emperor. If not, I’ll put up fifty thousand gold coins. Today’s incident? Forgotten. Deal?”

Richard saw no reason to refuse.

“Alright.”

Aurina perked up instantly.

“So, both treasures are mine?”

Her tail flicked, knocking the rod, which struck a glass cup on the table.

The cup shattered on the floor with a loud crash.

Frostsilver shrieked, “No!”

At that moment, four elliptical portals of warped blue light appeared in the spacious bedroom.

Horns blared, and hordes of black-armored knights poured out, shouting, “For the Count!”

They flooded the room, brandishing swords and axes, blocking every exit.

The lead knight bellowed, “My lord! Who do we cut down?”

Richard drew his sword, standing mere meters from Frostsilver.

“What’s going on? Why did breaking a cup summon this?”

Frostsilver took a deep breath, muttering, “Why am I so unlucky?”