Chapter 18
Unknown RecipientUnknown Recipient
‘Haha, they’re adding night duty to my workload? Beastmen sure have a way with people...’
Hearing about the additional shift made my body freeze up. It was like being struck by lightning. It was one hurdle after another. I wouldn’t even get an hour’s rest; I’d have to pull an all-nighter.
“Why do you look so glum? Breeder, didn’t you hear me?”
The white-maned lion in front of me spoke human words. I was so tired that I wondered if I was dreaming. I wished I could just collapse from exhaustion. It would be nice to wake up and find this was all just a dream.
“Why aren’t you answering? Should I repeat myself? This isn’t a request.”
As I stared blankly, Berman shook his white mane and tapped his jaw. He then bared his sharp, predatory teeth. Threatening someone already worn out? These beastmen really didn’t deserve to be called ‘people.’
‘If this were just a regular dog instead of a lion, I’d be tempted to knock him down a peg...’
The academy felt more like hell than a school. I agreed with the saying that it was a prison without bars. I’d only get to sleep when I was dead.
“No, I heard you loud and clear. You want me to cover Hugo’s shift.”
Better a dung heap than the underworld, I thought. I needed to stay alive. I’d have to treat Berman to a special coffee like I did with Jon Johnson when he visited the lounge.
“Good, you heard me. You just need to cover for one day.”
Berman’s response was like a magnanimous gesture. What did he mean by “just one day”? Did he think I could handle multiple night shifts in a row?
“One day?”
“Yes, just one. From the second day onwards, the ladies will take turns on watch.”
“???”
Was this place seriously a military academy? Students standing watch? The goddesses of the continent?
What kind of academy was this where students had to take turns on watch? I wanted to read the history book Sophia lent me and fall asleep peacefully...
Nothing was going my way today, except for the coffee biscuits.
“Alright, I understand. But why are you still here, Chief Berman? You didn’t stay just to ask me to cover night duty...”
It was rare for someone of Berman’s rank to stay at the academy for so long. They were known for their strict adherence to punctuality, always leaving on time.
Oh, maybe Berman had night duty at the main building.
“Ah, right! There’s something more important than the night shift. Did you notice anything strange during evening roll call?”
Berman’s question sounded like he’d remembered something. I knew he had more to say.
“Nothing unusual, except the first-year girls’ rooms were a bit messy.”
“Really? Are you sure about that?”
Berman rummaged through his vest pocket and pulled out a yellow envelope, sealed with red wax.
“Sure about what?”
“Are you sure all the students were accounted for? I’m asking if you did your job properly!”
Holding the yellow envelope, Berman’s eyes bore into mine. Facing a lion’s piercing gaze made me feel small and intimidated.
If I had to fight him, I’d definitely lose. This was so frustrating. I needed Sophia on my side as soon as possible.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I thought you were thorough, but this is disappointing.”
“Wait, are you saying there’s a student missing?”
“Yes, if you did the roll call correctly, you’d have noticed that one fourth-year is absent.”
“...?!”
Damn it, that’s what he meant? Now Berman’s words made sense. I hadn’t properly checked the fourth-years during roll call.
On the fourth floor, I’d only talked with Sophia about mint chocolate. I hadn’t even counted the students.
I just assumed there wouldn’t be any problems. But a fourth-year was missing?
“I’m sorry. I was in a rush to check on the fourth-years, so I missed it...”
“Well, it’s understandable given you’re dealing with the ladies directly. Just make sure to count the students properly next time.”
I admitted my mistake, and Berman surprisingly let it slide.
Was this not a big deal? Or was he being lenient because there was no one else to take on the job?
“Yes, sir. But who’s missing? Is there a student who hasn’t arrived yet?”
“Yes, and that student has specifically sent you a letter.”
“A letter? To me?”
What was he talking about? A dragon sending a letter to a mere servant like me?
“Yes, that’s why I came here personally.”
“Why? And are you sure it’s for me? Which student sent it?”
My confusion grew. A dragon sending a letter to me? How did they even know me?
“Could I entrust such a letter to someone else? If it got lost, I’d be responsible. Do you have connections with the ladies?”
“No, if I did, would I be working like a dog here?”
“Hmm... The word ‘dog’ offends me, but I’ll let it slide today.”
“I’ll watch my language.”
Why did he care about dog metaphors when he wasn’t even a dog?
“Good. Anyway, you’ll find out who sent it once you read it. Here.”
Swish!
Berman handed me the yellow envelope. He emphasized that he had fulfilled his duty of delivering it to me.
“Chief? Why did the student send me a letter...”
“I told you, read it and you’ll know. No one knows when that student will arrive, so check the attendance daily.”
Berman got up and left the room, waving his hand.
Click!
With night duty forcibly assigned to me, I had nothing else to do but open the letter.
The envelope was addressed to [The Dormitory Office]. The red wax seal bore a dragon’s insignia. It was definitely from a dragon.
Who could have sent it to me? Perhaps it was a character related to Breeder in the story. As a first-generation character, it was possible.
“Let’s see what it says.”
Rustle!
I opened the letter and began to read the black ink written inside.
The letter read:
⌈—You! Did you think I wouldn’t find out you were there?
—How could you leave so irresponsibly? I’ve been searching the continent for you for 50 years! I gave up all my vacation time for this!
—To think you’d be hiding in such an unexpected place...
—I’ll return once I’ve finished my business. Don’t go anywhere! If you run away again, I won’t spare you!
—From the one you coldly abandoned, Rayleigh.⌋
‘What the...?’
Just reading the letter made me feel the anger seeping through. I felt a shiver run down my spine.
The letter didn’t specify the recipient. It was addressed to “you,” maintaining a somewhat formal tone.
If “you” referred to me, I was in deep trouble. It meant I was the target of a dragon’s wrath.
Or perhaps I was already in trouble. The envelope was addressed to the dormitory office.
The sender’s name was ominous.
“Wait... Rayleigh? Rayleigh...? Oh-!”
The name rang a bell. Rayleigh was another SSR-grade dragon. She was portrayed as Sophia’s rival in the opening video.
But why was I receiving a threatening letter from her?
Rustle!
I quickly hid the letter, not daring to throw it away for fear of incurring more wrath.
‘This is bad. I need to get Sophia on my side before Rayleigh arrives.’
Reading the letter jolted me awake. I now had a clear goal. Since I was awake, I decided to check something.
Swish...!
I picked up the roll call sheet I’d used earlier.
I reviewed the SSR-grade dragons I had counted today.
Three in the second year,
Two in the third year (Saira and Layla),
And two in the fourth year (Sophia and Rayleigh).
“Wait, what? Did I miscount?”
I had identified seven SSR-grade dragons today.
What was the issue?
In “Destiny Dragons,” there were only eight SSR-grade dragons in total.
Including Rayleigh, one was still missing.
The missing slot on the roll call sheet gave me chills.
Could there be another missing student I hadn’t noticed?
‘Where did things go wrong???’