Chapter 11: Who is being stubborn?
The crumbs on Ophelia’s palm were licked clean.
She squinted, laughing.
“Haha.”
“What… what are you laughing at!”
Charis belatedly swallowed what was in her mouth, tasting the salty savoriness she hadn’t experienced in ages.
“What am I laughing at?
Forgot what you just did?”
Ophelia’s other hand pinched Charis’s lips, teasing them lightly.
“What I did?
You shoved those beef strips in my mouth!
I didn’t do anything.”
Charis pursed her lips, denying her actions.
Her memory was clear, but she quickly built a mental wall to protect herself.
“Oh?
Who was acting all ‘I’d rather die than eat your food’ just now?”
“Ugh… I didn’t!
You forced me.”
“No, no, no.
I’m talking about that little thing you did afterward.
I didn’t force that, did I?”
Ophelia was thrilled, her fingers brushing Charis’s pink lips.
Charis tried to resist, but her head was already against the wall—no escape.
“I didn’t… I didn’t do that!
You must’ve used some evil spell to mess with my mind!”
“Heh, as a hero, why would I need evil spells on you?
Aren’t those more your thing?”
“I don’t know!
You definitely did something to me!”
“Interesting theory, but you licking my hand—that’s a fact, no?”
Ophelia relished catching Charis at a weak moment, gleefully reclaiming the upper hand in their verbal spar.
‘Lick you?
If I wasn’t starving out of my mind, that never would’ve happened!
I’m all about keeping my pride!’
Charis’s face flushed with anger.
Since hatching, she’d never had meat—or even milk.
How could she resist when someone dangled such tempting food?
Already force-fed the beef strips, Charis’s resolve crumbled.
Once her appetite was unleashed, it was like breaking a vow—impossible to stop.
‘More beef… shrimp… desserts… fruit…’
Charis clutched her head, trying to rein in her surging desires.
Having tasted meat, resisting other foods’ temptations was nearly impossible.
“Not talking now?
What’s with the head-holding?
Where’s that sharp tongue of yours?
Speak.”
Ophelia poked Charis’s cheek, her finger sinking in playfully.
Charis was the perfect stress-relief toy, especially in this vulnerable state.
“Don’t touch my face!
I’m not falling for your…”
“Look at this.”
Ophelia suddenly pulled out a white candy, like a milk-based treat studded with peanut bits.
Its rich aroma hit Charis’s nose instantly.
“No way you’re tempting me again!
I’m not eating!”
Charis could turn her head before, but not now.
Her eyes locked onto the candy, beyond her control.
“Hey~ Look here.”
Ophelia waved the candy up and down.
Charis’s blue eyes followed, moving in sync.
“No… no way!”
Charis slapped her face to snap out of it, fear creeping in.
Her body was obeying instincts too much!
‘Is this dragon physiology?
Have I fallen too far to go back?’
“Here, eat. No more teasing.”
Ophelia seemed done playing, stuffing the candy into Charis’s mouth.
“Ugh… I’m not eating.”
Charis tried to argue, but her tongue was already savoring the candy, her words muffled and unclear.
“Keep talking tough, little glutton.
I’ve got things to do.
Stay in the room—dinner’s later.”
Ophelia clapped her hands, looking accomplished, and left with light steps, gently closing the door.
Bang.
With Ophelia gone, Charis took a deep breath.
“Ugh… this… tastes so good.”
Charis closed her eyes, savoring the candy’s flavor.
She couldn’t help sighing—her past life had been too bitter and exhausting.
“Charis, eating’s a form of resistance too.
You’re young—following instincts isn’t wrong.”
Talos spoke up, offering comfort.
“Is that your idea of consoling me, Demon King?
But my oath…”
Charis was still conflicted, refusing to see Ophelia as her master.
“No big deal.
Plenty of people make oaths—it’s not just you.
Honestly, freeloading off the heroes’ resources and food?
That’s a kind of revenge.”
“How so?
That sword saintess looked thrilled feeding me those beef strips.”
“I mean, you’re a dragon.
They might not afford to feed you.
Have you ever been full?”
Talos’s question made Charis reflect.
She recalled eating dry rations soaked in water once, the rations swelling to give a false sense of fullness.
“Never been full.”
“Exactly.
Eat like crazy, make them feel the pinch.
Drain the heroes’ resources and granaries for the demon side—that’s revenge!”
Talos’s logic struck a chord.
Charis suddenly felt eating didn’t compromise her dignity after all.
“But what if I eat too much, and they abandon me—or worse, kill me?”
Charis worried.
She was still too weak, with few allies to rely on.
“Don’t worry.
A dragon’s greatest strength is growing stronger by eating all sorts of things.
Control your portions for now, stay in this human academy, and opportunities will be everywhere.”
“Eat leaves to get stronger?”
Charis thought Talos meant the abundant fallen leaves around the academy, swept up in piles.
“Of course not grass!
You haven’t noticed, but the academy’s magical essence flows actively.
There’s plenty of valuable stuff here.”
“Magical essence?”
“No surprise you don’t know.
Magical essence is the foundation of this world’s primal structure.
The higher the quality, the more versatile and advanced its uses.
To strengthen your dragon scales, for example, you should munch on items rich in magical essence.”
“So, Demon King, you’re saying I’m weak because I’m malnourished?”
“Exactly.
I bet you didn’t eat your eggshell either, making you even weaker.
How else could you lose to low-tier beasts like tigers or wolves?”
“I was surrounded the moment I hatched!
When would I have time to eat my shell?”
Charis remembered her eggshell, left behind in the forest—no chance to retrieve it now.
“Alright, what’s done is done.
You’re imprisoned by the heroes, but that’s also a chance to access high-quality magical essence.
Like that robe you’re wearing—it’s made from silk spun by a magical beast’s cocoon.
It’s nutritious for you.”
Talos suggested eating the robe, but Charis, thinking of being left naked, prioritized her dignity.
“Forget the robe.
The saintess still wants it back.”
Charis flopped back, staring at the ceiling, a bit worried about her future.
At least Talos was finally proving somewhat useful.