If a human stood before me—even one holding a gun or claiming to be a mage—I wouldn’t so easily abandon the thought of running. Whether I could escape or not, giving up without a fight felt too weak.

But unfortunately, what faced me was a Great Dragon. A Silver Dragon with a wingspan exceeding twenty meters. Honestly, dying to a dragon shouldn’t be shameful, right?

As the Silver Dragon lifted its massive claw toward me, I found myself admiring its form instead: "Ah… so beautiful…" Guilty as charged—I’m a dragon fanatic. Problem?

Yet its claw didn’t crush me like a fly, as it had the other pirates.

The dragon held its claw above my head for a moment, then lowered it. Its fearsome face twisted into an almost human expression of confusion. It leaned its enormous head close, damp breath washing over me—no, *drenching* me.

"You fear no death?" The dragon’s voice boomed like thunder, nearly deafening me from less than a meter away.

Seeing me rub my ears, it pulled back slightly, though its huge eyes still pinned me in place.

"Of course I fear death," I said once my hearing cleared, tilting my head up to meet its gaze. But as I looked, its eyes flickered away… Wait. Was it *shy*? You’re a dragon! Where’s your dignity?

"Liar. Your eyes aren’t like theirs." It dismissed my claim without hesitation.

Huh? It wasn’t crushing me? Had it noticed my earlier warning and decided to spare me? I hadn’t missed the resemblance—the silver-haired girl I’d mistaken for a mage was clearly this dragon.

Wait. Was this… my protagonist aura finally activating? Next would be winning over the dragon girl, leveling up with her by my side, building a harem, becoming a dragon overlord, saving the world, marrying a goddess… My heart raced at the thought.

Though my mind wandered, it didn’t stop me from asking the dragon: "Do you really think I could escape you if I ran?"

The dragon studied me, then snorted—a clear disdain etched into its draconic features. "Too weak. Impossible."

Brutally honest. A little tact wouldn’t hurt.

"Exactly. I can’t run. So why flee like a coward just to die humiliated? Better to face death standing. At least that’s dignified." (Truthfully, I just knew running was pointless.)

The dragon shook its head, its tone softening slightly: "Liar. Your eyes say otherwise… But never mind."

As it spoke, the Silver Dragon shattered like a destroyed Blue-Eyes White Dragon card, dissolving into glittering light particles. From the shimmer, the silver-haired girl landed gently. Just as I’d guessed.

"For your courage and dignity, I permit you to serve me. Prove yourself well, and I may spare your life." She tried to look stern, but her darting eyes betrayed her. I didn’t probe deeper. Just being alive was enough.

"What can I do?" I had no reason to refuse.

"First—take me to where they keep the gold." Only then did I recall: she’d come for the treasure. Dragons really *are* obsessed with gold, no matter the world.

"I saw pirates stealing gold from others while passing by. I came to reclaim it… They attacked me first," she explained, her voice fading as she realized how flimsy it sounded. She wasn’t a mindless brute—just like the tales said. Silver Dragons were kind, rarely harming humans unprovoked. The pirates’ fate was karma.

I didn’t know where the gold was stored, but my aimless wandering had mapped most of the island’s restricted zones. The treasure vault had to be in one of them.

Leading the dragon girl through forbidden areas satisfied my curiosity too. Surviving pirates still lurked beyond the docks, but they couldn’t slow her down. Her power was off the charts. As for them—I’d never considered myself one of them. Fate dealt its hand.

We found the slave quarters, but the women counted far fewer than when they arrived. None of my fellow captives remained. Their fate was grim.

The dragon girl didn’t kill the slaves, but showed no pity either. I stayed silent. I knew my limits.

After half an hour of searching, we found the vault. She smashed the door open—I nearly went blind. Gold coins piled like rice mountains, mixed with jewels and glittering artifacts. Enough to drown in. Fancy magic tools lined the shelves. The pirates’ entire fortune.

The girl efficiently swept gold into thin air—clearly using storage magic. She took gems too, but only pocketed a few shiny trinkets from the magic tools. When she finished, pure bliss lit her face. Dragons and treasure—truly universal.

After savoring the moment, she remembered me and snapped back to seriousness. But her upturned lips betrayed her joy.

I had zero desire for that gold. Stealing from a dragon? Suicide.

She struggled to wipe the smile away, forcing her icy mask back on. *Just laugh*, I thought. *I saw it anyway. I won’t judge.*

"Your cooking smells delicious." Not bragging, but I’d bet no one on this world cooked better than me.

"Want to try some?" Her earlier reaction gave me confidence.

She nodded. "I’m hungry. Make something good."

"If you don’t mind waiting… Proper cooking takes time." Winning a dragon’s stomach felt like a greater honor than saving the world. I’d pour my soul into this meal.

She blinked at my intensity, then nodded uncertainly. "Rest here. I’ll call you when it’s ready." I sprinted to the kitchen.

Two hours later, I placed the final dish on the table. My life’s masterpiece. My skills had leveled up just making it. This was legendary, clothes-bursting-tier cooking.

"Hey… sorry to keep you waiting. It’s—" I rushed back to fetch her, then froze.

A steaming wooden tub sat in the room. The girl soaked in it, blissful, wearing nothing. A white dress lay crumpled on the floor beside a pair of shoes. *She wore only that?!* My restraint was crumbling.

"It’s ready?" She tilted her head at me, dripping wet. I numbly nodded.

Then—she stood. No blur, no divine glow. Her bare body glistened, utterly unashamed. Water trailed down her skin as she walked toward me—toward the door.

"C-clothes!" I stared at the ceiling. One more glance and my sanity would shatter. Rustling sounds followed. She was dressing.

"Done. Let’s go." I lowered my gaze. Her dress was on, dry, perfectly composed. Relief washed over me—tinged with disappointment. I caught myself glancing at her chest, hoping for a glimpse. Nothing.

"Whoa!" At the dining hall, she gasped, eyes sparkling at the feast. Before I could speak, she lunged at the table.

I’d cooked extra, remembering her dragon form. But I’d underestimated her appetite. The entire spread vanished in minutes. When I snapped out of it, she was sucking sauce off her fingers, eyeing the plates like she might lick them clean.

"How was it?" Her rapturous expression was answer enough, but I craved the words. Vanity.

"The most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten." She nodded fiercely. I could die happy now.

I left the messy table untouched. No one would live here again.

"What next?" I asked.

She tapped her chin, thinking. "Gold secured. Stomach full. Time to leave."

"Right. Nothing left here." I agreed.

"I’m pleased with you. You live. The remaining treasure is yours as payment. Farewell." Her words stunned me.

"Eh? You’re not taking me with you?" My brain short-circuited.

"Why would I? I already paid you." She blinked, genuinely confused.

Wait—this wasn’t how it was supposed to go!