“We did it……! The [Saint] did it……!”
“We won……! Against that demon dragon……!”
Subordinates watching the air battle from the command center raised fists; some crumpled to the floor weeping.
That’s how much the demon dragon threatened humanity.
Our history and tech survived.
Without the dragon’s threat, the outside monsters aren’t hard.
We chase them off with our magical implements.
That works because he minimized the dragon damage.
”…… Did I dream……?”
The demon dragon falling from the sky.
By one human’s hand.
Ouga Veret. At only 15, [Saint] — humanity’s new light.
A true feat.
And on his right arm — a prosthetic. ……No doubt.
My daughter made it. Yueli’s implement, with the [Saint], slew a demon dragon.
Something even I couldn’t…… he did……
”…… Right. Time to free her from this pointless admiration……”
She’d long said “I want to be like dad,” parking herself in the workshop.
At first, cute daughter behavior…… but looking at her implements, my thinking changed.
She’ll undoubtedly become an engineer better than me.
That’s why I refused to employ her. Aiming for me is wrong.
It’d rot her talent. Yueli must experience the outside world……!
I’d give her the forge but never hire. The awkward structure was born. Even hated, I wouldn’t bend.
A father does what he must for his child.
Is there a workshop fit for her? Not half-measure. Something that demands her growth…… while I struggled, a letter arrived.
“Take care of a brat Ouga Veret’s prosthetic” — from Radjnis Cabunika.
I’d heard of Ouga Veret. The young man with the [Saint] title.
I devised a plan.
Refuse Ouga Veret’s commission deliberately, kick Yueli out, have them meet.
If she’s my daughter, Ouga Veret would bite.
And it played out…… better than I’d hoped.
Ouga Veret’s name will resound globally.
He’ll face new trials.
The Floné Milfonti matter too — he was born under such a star.
Then those near him must grow.
”…… Only him.”
Amid the cheering, I decided.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
After piercing the dragon’s skull, I shook green blood off my arm.
[Dragon-Slay Fist · Kai]…… better than imagined.
More arm-weapon than prosthetic.
First use, no body issue.
After Yueli inspects——
“Ouga!”
“——Karen!”
She, whom I’d told to hide, ran and clung to me.
I spun once to absorb momentum, hugged her back.
“Really…… really glad……!”
She held my hand, blocked my sight with her other.
So she saw and heard my arm being severed.
She prayed for my safety more strongly.
Behind her, Yueli grinned, fist out as when I left.
Her face full of accomplishment.
“You did it, kid!”
“Yeah, proved your skill.”
“Yeah!”
I bumped fists with [Dragon-Slay Fist · Kai]; Yueli yelled at the sky from her gut.
“Did you SEE, damn dad?! This is my skill! ……Hah……cough cough…… ahh, satisfying……”
She gasped, then collapsed.
She raised both arms again.
Karen, tears dry, laughed with her at the sight.
I’m glad I trusted Yueli’s passion.
She’s someone who can pursue dreams.
This skill…… ending the connection after one prosthetic is a waste.
I’d thought before. After her satisfying creation…… no, that’s not it.
Her testing-completion at hyperspeed — discarding everything but order-to-creation.
Narrow, deep. Fine.
Right now I need exactly such a person.
Yueli has tasted the joy of her work shining. The fulfillment.
She must wonder about her future. After her small Lurdan-only world, a new feeling entered. Her chest is emptied after release.
I’ll fill that hole.
“Heh heh heh…… decided, Yueli.”
Her hand extended skyward as if reaching for the next path — I grabbed it.
“I’ll take you to Veret territory.”
”……!”
Her shoulder twitched.
”…… What’re you saying, kid. You know — I want to work at dad’s workshop. Made a dragon-killer. This time for sure.”
“Yeah, I know. But I want you. Veret heir and [Saint], me.”
“That doesn’t matter. This is Enkalton. Your status doesn’t work.”
“Sadly, not this time. I’m the hero who saved this city.”
“That’s……”
Enkalton ignores noble influence, but rejecting a savior’s request looks bad outwardly.
Such a response, and no one would help even if another dragon attacks.
That’d trouble Enkalton.
Past Dragon Crushers couldn’t repel it; [Dragon-Slay Fist · Kai] is on my arm. Even if Yueli makes more, qualified users are limited.
“So you have to come to me.”
Why am I playing villain?
To show Yueli I won’t let her go.
So she chooses Lurdan Workshop or Ouga Veret without regret.
If I forcibly take her, she has the forced alibi, no debt to her father or Lurdan.
If I gain bad reputation, I might soften the [Saint] image.
I don’t want to keep serving after defeating Floné.
Lower public reputation here.
“You don’t have to hesitate. Pursue heights, swing your craft.”
And.
”…… This isn’t complete yet, is it?”
I tapped my right arm.
”……! …… I see. I have no choice?”
“Right. Follow me. Tell Dude verbatim what I said.”
To avoid Dude complaining later, brief him.
He’ll surely permit.
He loves her skills most.
“Tomorrow, come before the Veret-bound flight.”
Once Father hears about the demon dragon, he’ll send a flight.
Reason: his beloved son (me) is here.
”…… Kid, you’re kind.”
“Heh heh heh…… what nonsense. I act as I want.”
I pulled her hand, lifted her.
“I’ll be waiting.”
That said, I left.
◇ [Villainous Young Master] Book Volume 4 is out! Greatly revised from the web version — please check it out! ◇