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Wishes granted by objects and phenomena have been described in various forms throughout history and across the globe.

From sealed lamps, shooting stars, fairies, divine dragons, Inugami, sacred trees, to golden fish and so on.

Generally, most cases involve a wish being granted in accordance with the convenience of the empty-handed, but there are also those that don’t follow this trend.

For instance, the monkey’s paw grants wishes in extremely tragic ways, and often, demons exploit loopholes in contracts to fulfill wishes in twisted manners.

However, despite the varying methods, the act of wishing in these tales is exceedingly simple.

In that sense, the dragon’s statement that it would grant a wish if the pot atop its head were removed is also quite similar.

Moreover, it offers not one, but two wishes.

Yet…

“…Hah!”

“Hmm?”

Marta suddenly darted forward.

The abruptness left the other two stunned.

In an instant, Marta had climbed onto Wales’ nose and reached for the overturned pot.

Crrrunch! Whoosh!!!

“Ahhhhh!!!”

At the moment of contact, sparks flew as Marta’s hand bounced off, catching fire as it hit the ground.

[Hah, even if this pot sealing my body has been sealed for thousands of years, it is still a divine object. There’s no way a mere creature from another realm could touch it.]

Karem looked down at Marta, who was sniffling softly. Catherine and Mary were no different.

“In normal cases, one would be beheaded on the spot—”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I got carried away by the mention of a wish! But I failed, so just once more! Just once!”

[Hah, creatures from another realm. They still succumb so easily to temptation. After all, there’s only one creature here that can take this cursed pot away.]

With disdain in his eyes, Wales glanced at Marta for a brief moment before focusing on Karem with a sharp gaze.

“…Me?”

[Yes. A creature reborn. From the divine power I sense, you must be Skadi’s priestess or apostle.]

“No, I’m a cook.”

The telepathy ringing in his head momentarily ceased.

That didn’t mean he felt nothing at all.

Wales stared at Karem with an incredulous expression.

[…Creatures. While I’ve been buried here, have the terms for calling priests and cooks really changed recently?]

“No! Now that we’re on this topic! Which cook in the world has such divine power! This is fraud!”

[So, it means that the definitions of a cook and a priest I am familiar with haven’t changed yet?]

“Of course!”

Karem felt wronged.

I mean, just because I can handle divine power doesn’t mean I should be treated like a believer.

Mary watched his expression, counting her fingers as she muttered. Beside her, Catherine crossed her arms and nodded, eyes closed.

“Well, considering the experiences we’ve had—”

“Hmm. It’s natural for divine power to be that potent.”

“Are you two saying that too?”

Karem subdued his opinion under the gaze of the two servants that suggested this was reasonable.

Yeah, well. To be honest, it did sting a bit. In a world where gods exist, having met gods directly and served them dishes, even receiving two holy relics, he had even visited divine realms.

“…Anyway, I just need to remove the pot, right?”

“Are you changing the subject?”

“Ah, regardless!”

Karem walked towards Wales, who lay face down with the pot still on him.

They say that when you hear the roar of a tiger, your body stiffens.

Just seeing the massive form of a living, breathing red dragon—not some CGI representation—made his body go rigid.

…Yes, I have to confirm this.

“Excuse me, but may I ask a few questions…?”

[I shall answer as much as you desire.]

“First, can I step on you?”

[Yes. Didn’t that creature from another realm step on you?]

“And after you’re freed, you won’t rampage, right?”

[What do you mean by that?]

“I mean, I’ve heard you’re particularly gentle among red dragons, but usually, one would expect you to unleash long-suppressed rage, burning cities and destroying kingdoms—”

[Your thoughts are as shallow as those of mere creatures while lacking the essence of being one.]

Wales slowly closed his eyes before opening them again.

[However, I am in a good mood now, so I shall assure you, I will neither burn your city nor rampage; I will not destroy your kingdom.]

“…It’s a lie—”

[Would I lie to you worthless, lowly beings? What would it gain me to have my anger unleashed upon mere creatures like you?]

An arrogance unlike anything ever experienced before.

Just as Marta and Catherine had said.

That alone instilled even more trust.

“Ugh.”

Karem carefully stepped onto Wales’ massive head, grabbing scales and small protruding horns as he climbed.

Finally, he looked down at Catherine.

Nod—

Karem cautiously reached for the large pot that could easily accommodate an adult.

“Phew. Alright.”

Earlier, Wales mentioned that this pot is a divine object. Oddly enough, despite any strange sensations in his hands, nothing burned or shocked him.

Swoosh—

Despite its size, the pot lifted without any resistance.

*

*

*

The emotions of a person are akin to gravity.

The greater the anticipation, the more profound the shock when betrayal strikes.

Lucia, though momentarily shaken, was engulfed in the expectation that her long-cherished plan was finally yielding results.

Upon hearing that Marta had vanished with the map, she threw everything within reach and smashed it all.

“Lu, Lucia-sama!”

“That wretched Marta should be punished for daring to be defiled by that goblin!!!”

Clang!

Lucia’s anger boiled.

And with that fury came her anxiety.

So many times had they belittled her simply because she was the Succubus Queen’s subordinate.

The humiliation endured over those long years.

The dread of never knowing when revolt might erupt.

Her ultimate goal was to become the true Succubus Queen by overcoming it all and collaborating with the lowly monster that made her blood run cold just being in the same space.

Yet now, that plan was on the verge of falling apart once again.

“Th-The key! Even if she has the map, she can’t open the seal!”

At the words of her injured subordinate succubus, Lucia managed to calmed down just a bit.

Right. What her subordinate said was right.

The betrayer has stolen the map?

Lucia, who had painstakingly prepared her plan for years, had read the map so much she memorized every single word and corridor marked on the deep layers of it.

“Marta, that wretched girl, when did she—”

“Older sister. But our plan can still proceed?”

“Exactly. No matter how far Marta runs, what can she do?”

“Let’s make our move before she tries anything!”

The succubi, who had sought refuge from Lucia’s fury, had gathered around her, their bare bodies flapping wings and tails as they chirped to calm her.

Right. What her subordinates said was correct.

Even if the betrayer had stolen the entire map, Lucia could still memorize its contents. She could also guess its location.

According to the oracle of the evil dragon Orcus, the seal cannot be broken without the shards of the dragon.

Even with a Grand Wizard and a Swordmaster, it would be a challenge.

Unless there were multiple powerful holy relics, it wouldn’t be possible. So now, calm that hot heart—

Whoosh.

Flames obscured her vision.

…Whoosh—!

Flames erupted, causing the gathered succubi to explode in unison.

*

*

*

Wales, who had been lying flat, raised his body, his wings flaring wide, filling the entire enclosed space.

The only wish Karem and the rest had was to eliminate the threat of the succubi-lizardman alliance lurking in the shadows of this city.

[Hmm. That wish is effectively two, but I’ll treat it as one since I’m in a good mood.]

Wales closed his eyes, lifting his front claws, similar in structure to human arms. Moments later, he flicked his claws and opened his eyes.

[Alright. Your wish as a creature who remembers his past life has been granted.]

“…Huh?”

[However, the first wish exists, but not the latter. I’ve only burned the former.]

Karem looked up at Wales with utter incredulity.

[Your gaze is impure. I told you. Your wish, creature who remembers his past life, has been granted.]

“…I’m not sure about this.”

Catherine suddenly gripped her staff tightly, a bead of sweat streaming down her tensed face.

“Wales is right.”

“Is that so?”

With a mix of wariness, awe, fear, and shock in their eyes, Catherine met Karem’s gaze.

Not only that, but the previously calm and expressionless Mary was pale, even whiter than marble, while Marta had huddled in a corner, wrapping her tail between her legs and embracing herself with her arms and wings.

[Creature who remembers his past life. Oh, but since you’ve liberated me, you’ve certainly earned the right to be called by name.]

“Uh…thank you?”

[Yes. Naturally, you’re incapable of feeling anything since your magic is worse than that of a typical creature.]

Excluding him were the reactions of the three who could wield magic.

Wales’ statement after being freed from his seal.

Karem had no choice but to believe it.

‘Goodness. Such robust magical power and magic.’

Of course, he had expected it to be considerable.

Although dragons exist, their appearances are so rare that they are almost legendary, their records do exist.

Dragons grow stronger until the moment of their death.

Among them, the one known as the Dragon Lord, Wales.

If that’s the case, the strength and magic of the Dragon Lord who’s lived for thousands of years, even sealed, must have reached an indescribable height.

Catherine could see the answers before her eyes.

Not just wise men, but an even greater height.

She was exhilarated.

‘Haha.’

Boom—!

Suddenly, thunder echoed through the chamber.

Dust rained down from the ceiling.

“What…an earthquake?”

“Impossible.”

Mary, placing her hand on her chest, answered after taking a deep breath.

“During the long history of Bendleig, there has never been an earthquake.”

“Then what is this tremor?”

“I don’t know. However, it feels more like a growl than an aftershock.”

Mary lifted her head with a suspicious look, glancing at Wales’ massive belly.

“Is that what a growl sounds like?”

[Indeed.]

Boom! As the flames dissipated, Wales, now with an even clearer red body, planted his four feet firmly on the ground, inhaling deeply.

[For thousands of years, I’ve breathed magic alone; I’ve forgotten what my last meal was and what broccoli tasted like.]

“Oh…that’s a bit—”

[And you, creatures, smell delightful.]

With that statement, all four of them instinctively recoiled and stepped back.

[Who would eat you? Creatures. Intelligent beings are fundamentally filled with waste and taste terrible. You, meddling creature.]

“Are you talking about me?”

[Yes. What do you have in that spatial expansion bag?]

Wales leaned in, delivering telepathy laced with hunger. His gaze looked akin to a dieter on the verge of a binge about to be allowed their first seasoned fried chicken.

Karem felt sympathy. Tortured by his diet in his past life, he could hardly bear to imagine. Wales had laid down here, buried for thousands of years.

Yet he seemed more lively than one would expect; nevertheless, the cruelty remained the same. Surviving all that time on nothing but magic. Even a dragon slayer’s grandparent would feel pity.

Karem subtly glanced back at his companions. Catherine showed a hint of disillusionment as her fantasy of dragons shattered, and Marta appeared to be lost in thought, having not predicted anything like this.

“Contractor, what will you do?”

“Uhh…give it to him.”

“Quickly. Or he might eat us.”

Who knew when the dragon’s mood might change?

[I won’t starve, but even if I am on the brink of starvation, I won’t eat you creatures.]

Wales grumbled.

[But what will you do about the other wish?]

“Um…if it’s not too presumptuous.”

“…Here we go again.”

Mary’s eyebrows twitched, while Catherine facepalmed, rolling her eyes. Only Marta seemed oblivious, but upon hearing Karem’s next words, she gasped in shock.

“Could we have just a little of Wales’ meat…?”

To be honest, it was hard to resist dragon meat.

[Umm…? That’s certainly doable.]

Wait, is he actually giving that away?

Karem’s greedy smile prompted indescribable feelings of bewilderment on the faces of the three as they stared at him.

 

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