Serena smirked, watching the baby guzzle down the mana essence like it was the most delicious thing in the world. "You know, for someone who was ready to let someone else take care of the egg, you're really embracing fatherhood."
Asher shot her a glare. "I. Am. Not. His. Father."
The baby finished drinking and looked up at him with wide, glimmering red eyes. "Papa!"
Asher nearly choked on air. "No! Stop that! I am not your papa!"
The baby blinked, tilting his head before letting out a soft, hiccuping giggle. He then proceeded to latch onto Asher's sleeve with an iron grip.
Serena burst out laughing. "Oh, this is amazing. The mighty Asher, the warrior who crushed the War God's trial, brought to his knees by a baby dragon."
"Shut up," Asher grumbled, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Serena crouched down, poking the baby's cheek. "So, what now? We obviously can't return him. His real parents would incinerate you before you even said hi."
Asher rubbed his temples. "I know. Which is why we have to figure out our next move before—"
A sudden, powerful presence filled the air, suffocating and ancient.
Both Asher and Serena stiffened instantly.
A deep, rumbling voice echoed in the distance, shaking the very air.
"WHO. DARES. STEAL. MY CHILD?"
Asher felt the blood drain from his face. He turned to Serena, his expression blank.
"How did she even find us this fast?" Serena asked as she stared at the sky, where a massive, winged dragon loomed overhead.
"The restriction spell was on the egg shell, without it, the Tether bound is no longer restricted" Asher said with a forced smile. "Not to mention, a soul-bound spatial tether like that allows a parent to locate their child easily."
The dragon descended, landing before them with a thunderous crash. Her scales shimmered like molten obsidian, and her piercing golden eyes locked onto them with seething rage.
"You dare to steal my child, puny humans?" Her voice rumbled like an earthquake, shaking the ground beneath them.
Asher immediately raised his hands. "We are not thieves! We saved your baby!"
The dragon's eyes narrowed, studying him in silence.
Serena leaned toward Asher and whispered, "I think she's waiting for an explanation. You better talk fast before we become dragon food."
"Ahem, it's ," Asher began, trying to sound as diplomatic as possible. "The Guild asked us to investigate the loss of dragon egg, which we did, and during that, a random chain of events led to—well, this situation. We didn't steal your child! I swear! But somehow, as we were fleeing during random teleportation we ended up here with the Egg absorbing the enormous man from the spatial Transfer and end up hatching."
Serena, eager to return the baby, held him out toward the towering dragon. "Here! Now that you're here, you can take him back."
But the baby clung tightly to Asher, his tiny hands gripping his clothes. His crimson eyes welled up with tears as he whimpered, "Papa..."
Serena stared at the baby, then at the furious dragon mother, then back at Asher, before smirking. "Oh… I think there's been a slight misunderstanding, ma'am."
The dragon's fiery gaze softened—if only for a moment—before she took a step forward, lowering her massive head until her face was mere inches from Asher's.
"Um… well, I don't know how it happened, but after hatching, he just kept calling me Papa..." Asher said awkwardly, still holding onto the baby. He hesitated before trying, once again, to hand him over.
The dragoness extended a single, razor-sharp claw and lightly touched the baby. A faint glow pulsed from the contact. Her expression remained unreadable as she spoke, "The initial connection was imprinted with your mana when he hatched. Because of that, he now instinctively sees you as his father."
Before Asher could respond, a brilliant flash of light engulfed the dragoness. When it faded, standing before them was a tall, elegant woman with long, dark hair, piercing red eyes, and an overwhelming aura of power. She crossed her arms, examining him intently.
Asher looked at her, then down at the baby in his arms, then back at her.
"You… you gave birth through self-reproduction?" he asked hesitantly.
The dragoness narrowed her eyes but nodded. "None of the other males were worthy enough to father my child. So, I was left with no choice but to conceive him alone."
Serena coughed awkwardly beside him. "So, uh… what now?"
The dragoness—no, the Dragon Queen—studied Asher and the baby with an expression unreadable yet intense. A long silence stretched between them before she finally spoke.
"You have two choices, human." Her voice carried a regal authority that made the air itself tremble. "You can relinquish him to me now, and I will sever the imprint. He will no longer recognize you as his father."
Asher glanced at the baby in his arms. The little one clung to his tunic with tiny fingers, his crimson eyes filled with pure trust. The mere thought of those eyes turning cold, of the bond being erased, made something twist inside Asher's chest. If you want to read more chapters, please visit Novel~Fire. (n)et
"And the second option?" Asher asked warily.
The Dragon Queen's lips curled into a slight smirk. "You keep him."
Serena stiffened beside him. "Wait, hold on! What do you mean keep him? You mean, Asher just… raises a dragon?"
"Not just any dragon," the Queen corrected. "He is of my bloodline—an Ancient Nether Dragon. One of the most powerful beings in existence. If you keep him, you take full responsibility as his father. You will raise him, protect him, and ensure he matures into his rightful strength."
Asher swallowed. He had been through countless life-and-death trials, fought beings of terrifying power, but this? This was a different kind of pressure entirely.
"And if I fail?" he asked cautiously.
The Dragon Queen's smirk deepened. "Then I will incinerate your soul until there is nothing left."
A cold sweat ran down Asher's back. "Of course… figures."
Serena crossed her arms. "Wait a damn minute. You were literally ready to kill us a second ago, and now you're fine with letting Asher take care of your kid?"
The Queen's expression softened—just barely. "I needed to confirm his strength, his worth. He retrieved my egg from thieves and kept my child safe. That alone proves he is not unworthy." She stepped forward, her crimson gaze locking onto Asher's. "So, what will it be, human?"
Asher looked down at the baby dragon—now in his human form—who stared up at him with absolute innocence. The little one reached up, patting Asher's face with his tiny hands.
Asher sighed, rubbing his temples. "I can already feel the headaches coming." He exhaled sharply before looking back at the Dragon Queen.
"Fine. I'll take care of him."
Serena gawked at him. "Are you serious? Do you even know how to raise a dragon?!"
"Nope," Asher said, shifting the baby in his arms. "But I guess I'm about to learn."
The Dragon Queen chuckled—a low, amused sound. "Very well. Then I will grant you one more boon." She extended a hand, and a black scale, pulsing with ancient energy, appeared before Asher.
"If ever you need guidance—or if the world itself dares to threaten my son—crush this scale. I will come."
Asher took the scale, feeling the immense power radiating from it. He placed it securely in his storage ring before looking back at the Dragon Queen.
"Guess that makes us family, huh?"
She smirked. "You could say that… Papa."
And with that, she vanished into the sky, leaving Asher holding his new son—his dragon son—while Serena stared at him like he had completely lost his mind.
"Why did you do that?" Serena asked, arms crossed as she stared at Asher.
Asher sighed. "I had a feeling she might kill me if I refused to take care of the baby."
Just then, a shadow loomed behind him.
Asher jumped in fright, turning to see the Dragon Queen standing there once more.
"Why are you still here?" he asked cautiously.
She raised an eyebrow. "Did you think I would just leave my child with you and disappear? I merely went to take care of some matters. It turned out to be a simple affair, so I returned."
She stepped forward, her crimson eyes gleaming with authority as she knelt before her son. Then, without hesitation, she undid the upper part of her dress, exposing her chest as she prepared to feed the baby.
Asher immediately turned his head, his face heating up in embarrassment.
The Dragon Queen's smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, piercing gaze. "Or are you just that uncontrolled, unable to rein in your lust?"
Asher felt a chill run down his spine at her words but quickly steadied himself. "It's called basic decency—to not look at another naked woman unless you share an intimate relationship with her."
Serena snorted from the side. "Wow, that's rich coming from you. I've seen you bathe without a care in the world."
"That's different!" Asher shot back, clearly flustered.
The Dragon Queen glanced at the two, then turned her attention back to her child, who was feeding calmly. "Hmph. At least you have some restraint. Perhaps you aren't as much of a fool as I thought."