《Half Dragon》 Prologue - What does it mean to live? What does it mean to die? As thunder crackled about and torrents of raindrops pounded the ground, she expressionlessly glance outside the window. With both of her hands, she tried mimicking a certain person''s smile. Again and again and again and again and again and again. Once more, she tried smiling in front of her full-body mirror©` that''s not a smile. Her face is like a Noh mask, devoid of any emotions, feelings and even warmth... "Ne, Chihaya.... When was the last time you felt ''alive''?" Her words slices at Chihaya, like the sheer edge of a knife. Chihaya clutch her head, as if her emotions turmoil. Even walking to classroom, she could heard a voice murmur ''monster'' all around, somewhere. Many eyes surround me.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "... Aya-chan.... Aya.... chan, Aya-chan...." She continued to clutch her head tightly as if to avoid her eyes looking outside. As her tears flowed out, Chihaya look at her disheveled hair and her rough voice in the mirror. "... Pathetic." Her current appearance couldn''t described as anything other than pathetic. "Pathetic don''t you think? The Chihaya I know is not this weak~ ¡ï" The person reflected in the mirror is a beautiful woman, her white arm continue clinging behind Chihaya. "Late." "Oh my~ That''s no good Chihaya-chan~ I just saw you cry, to bring up that facade at this point is useless? " The woman grinned like acheshire cat, "Then how about this Chihaya-chan, let''s make a deal... How about you become my plaything and in return.... I''ll teach you the passion of live... ?" Chihaya glared at her, "Refuse, you came here with another reason." "You''re no fun... I can take your life anytime you know?? Shouldn''t you at least act scared??" "... ''Scared'' huh?" "Well anyway, close your eyes~ It''s your time already, let''s not waste time?" .... And thus, just like that©` Chihaya Minamoto lost her life. Chapter 1 - A wild lolicon appeared! In a hall that had been stained black with soot, spiders had built enormous webs everywhere. The only thing that has been holding this dungeon still is probably just the ancient pillar, this dungeon is extremely old. It won¡¯t be long before it collapse. But mysteriously, it was able to hold on for thousands of years. Light was approaching from the distance, the torch which was held by a grown man is wavering by the wind. Despite being underground, it seems like there''s still wind blowing. Finally, at the end of this creepy hall is a giant door, carved in an ancient way and at the center of it is a mighty dragon, the eye was replaced with a glittering ruby gem. The man smirked as he knew that this is where the strongest dragon was sealed. With a light wave, the man extinguished the torch with magic. Taking out a similar red gem, he held it out and put it at the other eye, which was empty. As both of the gems radiate a red light, the gigantic door slowly open. In the darkness©` a big pair of yellow eyes narrowed like a predator. The dragon''s gaze consume the unknown intruder''s shadow. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. It leisurely circle around the man, as if it''s inspecting it. "[... Not introduce, yourself?]" The dragon growl, those yellow eyes are calm, as if no emotion lit them at all. And, as if it''s the man''s cue©` "It''s a pleasant to meet you, I am Andreas Lumina Vernarius. The head of the Vernarius house." With an appearance of a 30-40 year old man, he could be said to be quite dandy. "Isn''t talking with that form on hard?" the man grinned. Hnn©` Vernarius house huh? As a gust of wind accumulate and swirl around her, she lazily changed to her human form. With white hair extending past her waist and vertically slitted yellow eyes©` it¡¯s an adorable 5 year old girl. Her white wings flapped for a few times and her exquisite tail sways. "Nano. Just Nano." Andreas just noticed it now but it seems like there''s a chain attached to her left leg. That''s probably the second seal. "Able to open this door. Abnormal." Rinne pointed at him, pausing for a bit ©`she continued, "Purpose, here?" "To be able to open this door, only an abnormal person was able to do so. What is your purpose here?" That is probably what the girl meant, Andreas thought. "Well..." Closing his eyes, he take a deep breath. With glistening eyes, he grinned©` "There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to let a little girl suffer in such a cold dungeon, come! You belong in papa¡¯s arms!¡± He spread his arms wide. The first time Nano met human in this world ever since she''s reincarnated, it happens to be a perverted lolicon. Chapter 2 - Do not take candies from strangers! "There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to let a little girl suffer in such a cold dungeon, come! You belong in papa¡¯s arms!¡± He spread his arms wide. A lolicon, a person who is interested in young-looking girls engaged in varying degrees of erotic behavior. Those words enter her mind the moment this seemingly old guy said that. This guy is undoubtedly dangerous, Nano mumbled her reactions and took a big step back. ¡°Wait no! I¡¯m not someone suspicious! Don¡¯t be wary of me! Look I brought candies!¡± Andreas brought out a glittering colorful candies. Meanwhile Nano took another step back, no well©` that¡¯s because isn¡¯t using candies the most commonly used by kidnappers? This guy is definitely suspicious. Uwaaa©` How scary¡­. ¡°What¡¯s with that face?! I only made a joke because I heard from your dad you love jokes! Look, I¡¯m not someone suspicious ok?¡± Ah, it¡¯s one of the most common lures for kidnappers! The ¡®I know your father¡¯ or ¡®I¡¯m your relative¡¯ tactic! ¡°This is not getting anywhere, please listen to me¡­¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Know my father? Fumu fumu, continue.¡± Andreas scratched his back awkwardly, ¡°The truth is you see, I know your father. Even before he disappeared¡­¡± ¡°Oh ok.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t you¡¯re accepting this way to fast¡­?¡± Well it¡¯s that you know, I remember that old man said something like this¡­ ¡°Listen here Nano, it¡¯s okay to trust someone from the Vernarius house. But they¡¯re a pain in the butt to deal with since the blood of lolicon flows in their blood.¡± ¡°S-Setting that aside from now, I came here for another reason.¡± Making a serious face unlike the previous conversation, he ask contemplatively. ¡°I came here to pick you up, because I made a promise with your old man.¡± Nano glanced around, well even though she has been comfortably living here for 2 years. But she definitely won¡¯t stay here out of her own choice. ¡°¡­ Giving me a place to stay?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m going to give you a place to stay, I has a promise with that bastard after all.¡± He chuckled softly as he rub her head roughly. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me without any permission you bastard.¡± ¡°Eh? Is it my imagination that your personality just suddenly change?¡± Andreas withdraw his hand slowly, probably scared of the menacing aura just now. ¡°Packing stuff, wait.¡± Nano made a wait gesture before returning with a bunch of things kept in a piece of cloth. It¡¯s something an old-fashioned grandma wearing a kimono would bring everywhere behind her back. ¡°¡­.. Nano.¡± ¡°Nn?¡± ¡°What¡¯s in that?¡± Such confusion is logical. After all, the size of the bag(?) is bigger than the size of Nano after all. Well Nano is a dragon so carrying that kind of heavy thing is a piece of cake for her¡­ but the question is©` What¡¯s in that? ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°She changed the topic¡­ Well, as expected of that man¡¯s daughter is all I can say.¡± He said in a murmur. Chapter 3 – A new home ¡°It¡¯s your first time riding a carriage right? Are you fine? Do you feel any nausea?¡± Trying to strike a conversation, Andrea glanced at the girl beside him. Nano is actually a quiet person. She barely ever spoke, mostly nodding or staring quietly to communicate. The only reason she spoke at the dungeon is probably because the conversation won¡¯t be going anywhere if she kept quiet. ¡­ Of course once she speak it¡¯s either to answer important questions or to tell dry jokes. The person currently driving the carriage right now is his most trusted subordinate, Adrien. The dungeon Nano lives in is located deep inside a forsaken kingdom, the Firocia nation. A long abandoned kingdom that is now flowing with high-ranking monsters¡­ or so it¡¯s supposed to be, but because of a certain person¡¯s fault she was sealed at the deepest part of the dungeon. And Nano¡¯s high-ranking dragon¡¯s presence scares all the monsters away. Nano was lonely since there¡¯s not even a single soul, so she just play pranks on herself or tell jokes from her past life. Well that doesn¡¯t matter anymore since she is now free. ¡°So Nano, what¡¯s your favorite food?¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Nano, Nano, do you like dragons?¡± ¡°Nano Nano Nano, do you know that otters sleep holding hands?¡± ¡°Nan©`¡± ¡°Goddamn bitch, shut the hell up.¡± Andreas retreated to the corner while trembling. ¡°Talk more meaningful, please.¡± Nano silently glare at him with killing intent. Even Adrien who is driving the carriage felt a chill down his spine. ¡°Ah¡­ something more meaningful huh? Uh, how about the Vernarius house then?¡± Nano nodded in approval. ¡°Well, how should I start? Vernarius house, for generations have been a talented dragon tamer or rider. Well most of our dragons are wyverns. As time passes by there¡¯s a lot of dragon contractors, and just like swordsman, archer or magician, dragon contractor now became an occupation. But Vernarius house¡¯s dragon contractor still stays at the top. I have a beautiful wife¡­................daught................. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.. ¡­¡­¡­¡­ ¡­¡­ ¡°-o.¡± ¡°-no.¡± ¡°Nano!¡± Ah, I must have dozed off. She adjusted her eyes to her surrounding and blink a few times. ¡°¡­ Arrive?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we arrived. You sure are rude to sleep in the middle of my explanations.¡± Ah right, because the one-sided conversation suddenly changed from dragons to his family, Nano probably drowsed off because of that. Looking at the sky, it¡¯s already nighttime already and in front of her is a humongous mansion. ¡°¡­ Uaa.¡± ¡°Big right? Welcome to the Vernarius manor. From now on, you name will be Nano Lumina Vernarius, an adopted daughter of the Vernarius house.¡± He spread his arms wide, as if welcoming a new family member. ¡°Ah¡­¡± As if not expecting this, she silently stared at Andreas. She was expecting to be a maid or a worker at his manor¡­ right, she didn¡¯t expect this. It¡¯s a new family. Chapter 4 - When it comes to men, women are carnivorous! Unless they swing both ways... ¡°Big right? Welcome to the Vernarius manor. From now on, your name will be Nano Lumina Vernarius, an adopted daughter of the Vernarius house.¡± *stare* ¡°¡­¡± *staaaaaare* ¡°Well your new family is waiting inside¡­ So uh, can you hide your wings and scales? I¡¯m hiding the fact that you¡¯re a dragon actually¡­¡± Nano¡¯s stares make this communication more awkward. ¡­ Ah, something¡­. is not right¡­ Nano whispered softly. £ª?£ª A woman with beautiful features continue to walk a few paces, turns around and come back. With silky pink hair that reaches her hip and blue eyes, she is an extremely beautiful woman with curvy figures. ¡°Mom, pacing around won¡¯t help, you know~¡± a 5 year old girl with similar features sitting on top of luxurious sofa said as she wave her legs. ¡°I¡¯m aware of that! And Carlyn! Girls shouldn¡¯t sit with her legs open!¡± Just as the beautiful woman, Camille was about to educate her only daughter. A maid came with a message. ¡°Sir Andreas have come back home safely, my lady.¡± Swiftly like a squirrel, Camille disappeared to the entrance before the maid could finish her sentence. ¡°¡­ with an unknown girl.¡± ¡°You came at the right time, maid-san~¡± Carlyn grinned happily knowing that she escaped death.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. £ª?£ª Lightning struck behind Camille as she stood there with a grimace. Nn, like Nano thought¡­¡­ This man didn¡¯t bother to tell his family about her presence. ¡°Oh my~ It seems like when I was worrying about you at the manor, I wonder whose daughter that is huh?¡± with a voice like the ringing of bells, she smiled sweetly as she cracked her fingers as if readying for a deadly punch. ¡°W-Wait, this is a misunderstanding. Look, I can explain! Right, Nano?¡± ¡°Papa, who is this woman?¡± Intentionally, Nano try to worsen the current situation. ¡°No wait! Don¡¯t just worse©` GUFUH!!¡± Camille punched him right at the solar plexus before he even get the chance to explain. ¡°Oyaaaa©` What¡¯s wrong? Why aren¡¯t you explaining?¡± grabbing him by the collar, she sent him a threatening gaze. ¡°¡­Ex, plain. I¡¯ll, expla¡­ in.¡± ¡°Huh? I couldn¡¯t hear you. Couldn¡¯t you speak a little bit louder?¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll explain!!!!¡± ¡°I SAID ONLY A ¡®LITTLE BIT¡¯ YOU BASTAAAARD!¡± she once again hit him right on the face until he is 2 meters away. Stopping right in from of Nano, Camille spoke to her with a sniffing voice. ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe that bastard just left such a beautiful little girl at a cold orphanage! Not only that, he just threw his mistress away and act as if it¡¯s nothing! Come, you belong in mama¡¯s arms! I¡¯ll give you warm food and a place to stay!¡± Nn, this woman is also a lolicon. ¡°W-Wait, like I said it¡¯s a misunderstanding. She¡¯s my friend¡¯s daughter! I am adopting her into this house because she have a high affinity for magic that¡¯s all!¡± ¡°Huh? Who gave you permission to speak, bastard?¡± Before another argument could start, Carlyn who has been leaning on the wall and quietly observing this whole time spoke, ¡°So anyway, we¡¯re having a new family member? Nice to meet¡¯cha, I¡¯m Carlyn.¡± She said with a peace. An irk appeared on Camille¡¯s head as she knock her daughter¡¯s head, ¡°Didn¡¯t I teach you how to properly introduce yourself?! Pinch your dress lightly, bow down and state your full name! Adjust your posture now!¡± ¡°Geh©` I got a playmate, so shouldn¡¯t we celebrate? And why should I need to be formal around my sister? I swear to god¡­ mom¡¯s like a hannya everytime she¡¯s mad.¡± ¡°Carlyn my dear, did you say something that would provoke me in any way?¡± ¡°N-Now now, darling. What Carlyn said is true¡­ She never have someone to play with ever since Cliff went to Ravium academy¡­¡± scared by the menacing smile, Andreas intervene the conversation. ¡°Hmph©` I¡¯ll let this pass once, but the next moment she behave this way. I¡¯ll educate her properly¡­.. using my own way.¡± Her mother¡¯s last words send chills down Carlyn¡¯s spine. ¡°W-Well anyway, it¡¯s night~ Nano, is it? It must¡¯ve been suck to ride in the carriage for a long time, so how about we call it a day¡­?¡± ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s already this late¡­. Sleeping late is going to affect my beauty, let¡¯s call it a day. But of course before we sleep..... you need to explain me ¡®everything¡¯ alright, darling? ¡ï¡± ¡°Ah©`! Wait! Carlyn! Nano¡¯s bedroom is not done yet so sleep with her just for toniiiiiiiiiiiight!¡± Dragging Andreas by the collar, Camille went to their bedroom. Chapter 4.5 – White hair Dragging Andreas by the collar, Camille went to their bedroom. She threw the man she has been holding on the ground once they arrived. ¡°That color on that girl¡¯s hair¡­.. You understand the risk don¡¯t you?¡± Camille¡¯s eyes narrowed as she glared towards him. ¡°It raised my suspicion when you said you¡¯re out for political business¡­ Andreas Lumina Vernarius, don¡¯t you dare underestimate me, I¡¯ve served this kingdoms for years now.¡± ¡°Da-Darling, calm down calm down. Do you know otters sleep while holding ha? ¡° A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. She grabbed Andreas¡¯ lapel as she glared furiously at him ¡°Don¡¯t you get the risk?! She created too many enemies! Involving ourselves with one of her family member could cause the downfall of the Vernarius family!¡± Her eyes watered as she clutched his lapel, ¡°¡­. Please, don¡¯t be so reckless. The war is over, my service is over¡­ I don¡¯t want the same thing to repeat all over again¡­¡­¡± Andreas stretched his hand as he patted her head, he smiled warmly like a na?ve man. ¡°But, I¡¯m not the type who break promises do I? I promise to that bastard, so all I need to do is fulfill it.¡± Camille slapped his outstretched hand as she glared at him. ¡°Listen carefully, I¡¯ve served this kingdom for years. My instincts are the same as that of a wild animal. Your thinking is way to na?ve.¡± She walked to the exit and speak in a whisper, ¡°But still, if you really are capable of building a warm family. Then I don¡¯t mind forgiving you¡­.¡± Said she as she exit the door. But those spoken words didn¡¯t escape his ears. Unnoticed by anyone, he grinned.