Chapter 19
Definitely the RecipientDefinitely the Recipient
“Snore… mumble…”
“Hrm… I’m sorry… senior…”
“I… I want to go home…”
In the dead of night, the first-year girls were sound asleep. A few were even mumbling in their dreams. They must have been thoroughly worn out from being disciplined by their seniors earlier in the day.
‘They’re all sound asleep. I was worried my footsteps might wake them.’
They didn’t even notice me entering their rooms, lost in their dreams with peaceful expressions.
‘Sigh, there’s nothing unusual about the first-years’ numbers. Where did things go wrong?’
My expression was far from peaceful. My mind was a storm of worries, leading me to an unscheduled night patrol.
I tread as quietly as possible, focusing on counting heads without waking anyone.
I couldn’t even think of entering the third or fourth-year dorms, relying instead on cross-referencing the attendance sheet and the sounds of breathing.
Creak
Carefully, I opened the last first-year dormitory door. Inside, Tina and Derke were snoring away.
Tina slept in a straight, almost rigid posture, while Derke was…
“Daddy… I miss you…”
Derke clung tightly to my jacket, sniffing it as she muttered in her sleep.
Seeing her like this made my heart ache. Without thinking, I reached out.
Pat, pat
I gently stroked her head. She needed comfort, like a lost puppy.
“You did well today. Tell me if anyone bothers you again.”
I whispered softly in her ear. It was the least I could do for her. As I stroked her head, she smiled blissfully in her sleep.
“Kyaa, heehee…”
Maybe she was dreaming of being with her dad. Seeing her happy made me feel a bit better.
‘She’s so cute…’
I left the room with a smile, but it quickly faded into a heavy sigh. Despite my efforts, there was no discrepancy in the total number of students.
Aside from the absent fourth-year Rayleigh, all students were accounted for.
‘There shouldn’t be any problems, but something feels off.’
I returned to the dorm office, still puzzled. The SSR count seemed incorrect. It should be eight, but I’d only accounted for seven.
‘Where did I go wrong?’
I reviewed the attendance sheet again, but couldn’t figure it out. There should be eight SSR dragons, but one was missing. The total number of students was correct.
It was a mystery. Exhausted, I massaged my temples. The day had been non-stop, and I still had night duty ahead.
‘Forget it.’
I decided to ignore my duties for a bit and sprawled on the bed. There were no other staff to watch over me. Even Berman had just left, so I relaxed in my makeshift comfort zone.
I planned to read the book Sophia lent me, ⌈ History of the Drango Continent. ⌋ It was a good way to pass the time and learn about the world.
*
The book, ⌈ History of the Drango Continent, ⌋ helped me pass the night. Despite its dry subject, it engrossed me like a good novel, painting vivid pictures in my mind.
“Ugh, I’m so tired…”
After reading all night, I had dark circles under my eyes. The price of gaining knowledge.
Still, I learned a lot about the setting of ⟨Destiny Dragons.⟩
To summarize:
A long time ago, the ancient dragon Detronos was unsealed, threatening the continent. To prepare for this, Valkyrie Island was turned into an academy.
Most of the ancient dragons were gone, so their daughters took up the mantle. The academy students were essentially young warriors, trained from an early age.
‘That explains why Derke misses her dad so much…’
It made sense why Derke longed for her father. Her situation was indeed sad.
‘But first, I need to survive.’
I had already woken the girls and started my shift at the lounge.
Slurp
“Even leftover coffee smells good.”
I brewed some coffee and took a sip. Today, I needed its strength to get through the day.
The rich flavor revived me a bit, but my eyelids still felt heavy. I needed to avoid any mistakes today.
‘Let’s think about mint chocolate later. Today, I just need to stay awake.’
Knock, knock.
“Huh? Who’s here?”
Someone knocked on the door. I was about to roast coffee beans.
“Hey, Breeder! How was your night?”
“…”
John Johnson entered, calling me “Brother” in a friendly tone. He always showed up before opening hours.
“What’s with those dark circles? You look like a panda.”
“I had night duty. I’m too tired to entertain you today.”
I turned away from him. I wasn’t in the mood to be hospitable.
“Oh, come on! I didn’t come just for coffee!”
“You’re not supposed to be here during school hours. What if you get caught?”
“Ahem! Forget that. How about some magic herb to keep you awake?”
Magic herb? It was like a strong cigarette, highly addictive.
“No, thanks.”
I didn’t want to get involved in such things.
“Really? How about this? It’ll wake you up for sure.”
John Johnson was unusually persistent. Something was off today. Maybe the biscuit had made him more amiable.
“What is it? Did you bring me a gift?”
“You’re quick. Take a look at this. It’s heavy, so help me out.”
Thunk!
“Here, take it.”
“Huh? What’s this?”
John Johnson placed a book on the table. The cover read, “50 Quick and Easy Dessert Recipes.”
“How about it? Doesn’t it spark your curiosity?”
“…”
This short, insistent dwarf… He was determined to convert me to his tastes.