The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL] Chapter 397: A Dragon’s Burden

Riley found himself regretting his own foresight at times.

Was it too soon for this?

Couldn't they maintain a façade of patience for a little longer?

Did they have no regard for how desperate their actions made them appear?

Merely a few days had passed since Malrik's downfall, and already, they were making their presence known.

"Three hours," Riley stated, his gaze drifting to the observing orb. "They've been loitering there for three full hours?"

He turned his attention to Kael, who was engrossed in the magical display projected from his desk.

The scene depicted was utter pandemonium.

So-called "dignified" dragons were causing a commo­tion in the main hall, their voices escalating, their sheer presence resonating even through the orb's confines.

While they refrained from unleashing their powers, aware that Kael would seize such an opportunity to expel them, their intent to intimidate their way inside was palpable.

"And they persist in demanding an audience with you and the red dragon?" Riley inquired.

"Yes," Kael responded, his eyes locked on the mesmerizing visuals. "It's precisely as you anticipated."

Riley let out a soft, exasperated sound.

"Not entirely. I had surmised they would exhibit a modicum of restraint before resorting to such a public display," he confessed, massaging his temples. "Their haste, however, strikes me as an unequivocal admission of culpability."

His expression grew somber.

"It would be prudent to continue denying them entry for the time being. The instant they gain an "in" with any of us, they will undoubtedly shift blame."

A brief silence ensued.

"And neither you nor your father-in-law would emerge unscathed."

"I remain unperturbed," Kael stated with characteristic flatness. "This position was never my ambition to begin with."

His focus remained fixed on the orb, observing the bothersome dragons whom he was, regrettably, bound to protect.

Sensing his mate's disquiet and melancholy, the astute, formerly human individual recognized the need for a mood uplift.

He approached without hesitation, drawing Kael into a gentle embrace, his hand resting comfortingly upon his head.

"You need not trouble yourself with their antics," Riley murmured. "While your duty as the Dragon Lord entails safeguarding the dragon clan, I doubt that extends to harboring dragons who demonstrably harbor ill will towards their own kind."

He tilted his head slightly, his tone becoming decidedly more casual.

"Should we find ourselves compelled to eliminate them, and consequently, the dragon population dwindles, we shall simply facilitate its replenishment."

Kael finally shifted his gaze towards him.

A crease formed between his brows.

"...Excuse me?"

"You heard correctly. In the most dire of circumstances, we shall repopulate the clan," Riley reiterated, as if stating the most self-evident of truths.

"Given their current vexing behavior, it would be far more efficient to replace them with individuals who might be somewhat impetuous and perhaps vociferous, but decidedly less repugnant."

He offered a slight shrug.

"At the very least, that would provide us with genuine motivation to sustain the clan's continuation."

Kael blinked once.

Then again.

He needed to be absolutely certain of what he had just heard.

Shaking his head, he clicked his tongue in mild disbelief.

"You certainly possess a bold tongue," he commented softly, "though I harbor doubts about your true willingness to enact such a drastic measure."

Riley merely offered a knowing smile.

Leaning closer, he gently pressed his lips to Kael's forehead.

"It is not an impossibility," he stated with a lighthearted lilt. "And I suspect you possess ample stamina for such an endeavor, my dearest."

His fingers tenderly threaded through Kael's hair, tucking a stray strand behind his ear. The subtle gesture conveyed a deep, familiar affection, and Riley couldn't suppress the quiet swell of contentment as the tension visibly eased from Kael's shoulders.

"Now... regarding that Malrik," he continued, his tone expertly shifting gears, "that unfortunate outcast harbored an ego substantial enough to leave behind an abundance of detailed notes."

A subtle smirk played on his lips.

"Therefore, let us grant these bothersome dragons a period to further entrench their own ruin before we unveil the full extent of their accomplice's meticulous planning."

The golden dragon, whose demeanor appeared somewhat improved, cast a questioning glance his way.

"Have you concluded your review of all materials retrieved from the Nest?"

"Not entirely," Riley confessed with a weary sigh. "Beyond the proliferation of documents, our primary focus has been on the dragonlings."

His expression softened with a hint of melancholy.

"As your publicly acknowledged human aide and mate, I found myself unable to directly confront their distraught parents. Consequently, I dedicated my efforts to engaging with the children. Initially somewhat fractious, they grew considerably more amicable and cooperative in providing their testimonies once they grasped the extent of their deception."

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair.

"Lord Karion, meanwhile, assumed responsibility for reuniting the remaining dragonlings with their officially registered guardians."

Kael emitted a soft, approving hum.

"As you could readily imagine, there was a degree of resistance encountered," Riley added. "Certain dragons adamantly asserted their inability to undertake the care of a youngling."

He paused, finding the assertion fundamentally absurd – yet, dragons had always exhibited peculiarities. Their interpretation of parental responsibility differed significantly from the outset, rendering such sentiments, in a way, unsurvivably unsurprising.

If only a greater number of dragons cherished their offspring with the same devotion as the Dravaryns.

"However, my father-in-law remained unyielding in his resolve, ensuring that, in the end, all dragonlings were successfully returned to their rightful kin."

Nevertheless—

Riley’s gaze slightly dipped. “That hardly addresses the crux of the issue.”

The golden dragon lord lifted an eyebrow. “Still?”

“Yeah,” Riley confirmed. “Ultimately, we'll need a replacement institution. Or at the very least, a trustworthy individual to oversee its functions.”

His voice took on a more contemplative tone. “At least until we devise a superior system that doesn’t necessitate a century just for their societal integration.”

The former mortal and student didn’t envision happy children emerging from a protracted stay in what was essentially a hundred-year boarding school.

Simultaneously, he understood that leaving Orien—even as a sweet infant—to his own devices was impossible. It wasn't due to the dragonling's lack of consideration, but rather his overwhelming power, which others struggled to manage. Being potent was never something Orien should have to apologize for, and in an ideal scenario, it wouldn't cause him any trouble. However, elevating everyone else's strength simply wasn't a viable solution, leaving them with that…

Therefore, the most pragmatic approach was to discover a workable compromise.

Regrettably, the task of devising this solution fell to him, as the dragons surrounding him weren’t exactly proponents of formal education.

They either bypassed the Nest entirely—or, well, blew past it—or sailed through it effortlessly.

Hardly exemplary students he could present as role models. So, yes…

“Tch.”

Kael, recognizing that this undertaking would likely fall more heavily on his mate, expressed clear irritation at the prospect.

Riley immediately perceived his distaste and merely shook his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Then, intending to lighten the atmosphere, he sat up straighter, deciding to shift the subject.

“But enough of that,” he announced. “I heard you depleted the red dragon’s mana?”

“Yeah. There was no alternative, as he wasn’t exactly coherent.”

“Oh…”

“But even after shifting into his human form… he still hasn't awakened?”

The golden dragon felt there was no room for pickiness when the individual in question was fortunate enough to still be alive. Furthermore, instead of languishing in a dungeon for his actions, he was resting in an actual bed. Of course, one could argue he hadn't truly harmed anyone, yet countless others had met their demise for far lesser transgressions.

“He should be waking up soon,” Kael stated. “His condition wasn’t optimal to begin with. And besides being impossible to reason with, his mana spiraled out of control upon full transformation, leaving us no choice but to exhaust him into a forced slumber.”

This was also the primary reason Riley hadn't been able to visit him sooner. It wasn't that he couldn't bear to be in the same room. If anything, the opposite was true.

He had requested to see the dragon some time ago, but Kael had already issued a warning. Dragons in such a state were exceedingly sensitive.

To be fair, Riley, as a dragon himself, believed they were perpetually sensitive to everything.

But apparently, there existed a specific state where introducing another mana signature into a confined space—especially one as potent as his—would provoke defensive responses.

Even though Riley could now better suppress his presence, the risk wasn't worth it, particularly when it served no purpose. The dragon they had taken in was, after all, unconscious.

Conversation would be impossible, so it was better to concentrate on other tasks his workaholic mate could check off their ever-expanding list.

“But here,” Kael said, presenting Riley with a folder. It appeared remarkably human-like.

Not parchment, nor a scroll?

“You should examine this. It was provided by his secretary.”

Riley blinked, accepting the item.

“Miss Lee?” he inquired.

Kael nodded. “She mentioned she couldn’t assist with anything related to his draconic identity. However, she furnished all the information she possessed regarding his human life.”

The woman further explained her willingness to help stemmed from her certainty that her boss’s company was reputable and managed efficiently, expressing her hope that this would aid in demonstrating that the events were likely accidental.

Riley glanced down at the folder, still somewhat taken aback by the sheer audacity it represented.

He then opened it.

Flipping past the cover.

And—

“Huh?!”

The exclamation was more than sufficient to pique the dragon lord’s unreserved curiosity.

“What is it?”

Instead of replying immediately, the black dragon simply stared at the documents as if they had personally befuddled him.

“Kael… this individual…”

He looked up. “You don’t recall him?”

The golden dragon, whose memory was suddenly being challenged, furrowed his brow slightly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Riley stated, tapping a page, “I don’t know what he looks like now, covered in injuries and grime, but if this is indeed the same person as the one in this photograph… then we have encountered him before.”

A moment of silence ensued.

Kael’s confusion persisted, unmoved.

“…?”

Riley leaned back slightly, his gaze still fixed on the file.“That was the guy who liked banana milk,” one of them stated. A brief pause followed. “The very same one who was extorted,” chimed in another. Kael, baffled, questioned, “What?” He genuinely seemed confused this time. “Banana milk…?” he mumbled, trying to process the information. “…Extortion?” he added, the word sounding foreign on his tongue.