Julia had never craved power as desperately as she did today.

If only she were stronger, she wouldn’t have to watch helplessly as terrible things kept happening.

If only she were strong enough, she could change those tragic endings set in stone.

*If only…*

Her fist clenched in frustration, then fell limp. She shut her eyes, head bowed.

But what could she do? She was just a nun with no strength to bind even a chicken.

When the guards hurt Alquett, she hadn’t even had the courage to step forward and protect her.

And those companions who’d promised to stand with Alquett? When blades flashed and blood spilled, not a single one dared to speak up for her.

Julia didn’t blame them.

Humans were selfish by nature. Avoiding harm was instinct.

She only hated her own powerlessness—how even giving her all changed nothing.

*Ugh…*

Suddenly, Julia saw the guards who’d been swaggering moments ago scattering in panic from the square.

*What’s happening?*

Before she could react, a deafening dragon’s roar split the night sky. It shook the earth beneath their feet, silencing the world.

A scorching, oppressive aura flooded the air, chilling her to the bone.

The two guards who’d been dragging Julia had vanished without a trace.

Pale moonlight pierced the clouds, bathing the buildings in silver. Against the glow, a colossal silhouette descended slowly before the stunned crowd.

*What… what is that…?*

Julia stared, mesmerized, at the silver figure beneath the moon—a perfect blend of grace and power, like an angel descending from heaven.

…

Lilith’s icy, powerful wings unfurled, blotting out the sky. Their shadow fell like a blade over the land. One wing trembled slightly in the wind, as if claiming dominion over the heavens. Moonlight glinted off her silver scales—beauty reserved only for the mightiest of dragonkind.

*(“Xiao Wei! The wing! The right wing’s crooked!”*

*“Ah! Sorry! Fixing it now—”)*

The shadow of the silver dragon stretched across the ground like a mountain. Its presence froze the entire square—and half the city—into stunned silence. Only its earth-shaking roar echoed endlessly.

*(“Ugh… flying big is so tiring… Should I just stand on the rooftops instead—?”)*

The silver dragon landed heavily, talons sinking into nearby rooftops. Its ancient, majestic form radiated an aura forged over centuries—a dragon’s overwhelming might pressing down on all below.

It opened its eyes. Crimson light flared within them—cold, kingly, gazing down at the humans like ants.

*(“Where’s the Hero…? I saw them just now—”)*

Its wings spread again, vast enough to swallow the sky. Each beat sent icy gusts reeking of magma and volcanoes sweeping through the square. Its roar shattered courage, freezing blood in veins.

A deep, rhythmic vibration shook the air and ground—like war drums pounding against eardrums and hearts. The timid collapsed to their knees, trembling.

*(“Crap… why’s everyone staring…? My heart’s racing… Are these people brain-dead? Why’s no one talking?!”)*

The legendary “Silver Dragon Queen’s” arrival didn’t just stun the conscious adventurers and civilians—it slammed the bishop and guards with the crushing weight of an unbridgeable power gap.

After all, “dragon” alone meant rarity and raw strength.

Even on this magic-filled continent, most commoners and low-ranked adventurers would never glimpse a single ordinary dragon in their lifetimes—let alone a silver dragon, the most elegant of their kind, or its queen.

Her very presence seemed meant to conquer this battlefield, to showcase invincibility.

…

“Humans! Answer your Queen!”

Lilith deepened her voice, mimicking her dragon-queen mother’s tone when scolding her for refusing carrots.

The crisp, elegant demand—laced with restrained fury—jolted most of the crowd out of their daze.

“T-That’s a dragon? A real dragon!”

“Mama! I saw a real dragon!”

“So big… so white… those scales are gorgeous—”

The common folk whispered in awe and disbelief, as if they’d won the lottery.

“A Dragonmaid?! How’d it get inside the city?!”

“Damn it! What were the gate guards doing?! How’d they let a dragon through?!”

“Fire them! Every guard on duty today gets fired!”

The soldiers, meanwhile, were pure panic.

“Your Grace… look—”

A priest leaned toward the bishop, voice hushed.

Johanna finally snapped out of her shock, tightening her grip on her staff.

As high clergy, she’d seen dragons before.

With her Light magic and Holy Staff, subduing an ordinary adult dragon was within her power.

But what stunned her was the name this dragon had claimed.

“So… Princess Feliana Claudeleine…”

Johanna bit her lip. Before her baffled priests and guards, she forced a flattering smile, her voice honeyed.

“Your form is as breathtaking as the legends say… May I ask… what brings Your Highness… to our humble city?”

Feliana Claudeleine was famously reclusive—buried in state affairs, never recorded visiting other races’ territories, let alone revealing her true dragon form publicly. Few had ever seen her like this.

For a heartbeat, Johanna wondered if this dragon was lying, using Feliana’s name as a bluff.

But impersonating the Dragon Queen? In the Dragon Kingdom, that was a beheading offense.

Surely no dragon would be foolish enough to provoke the Silver Dragon Queen’s wrath. With her temper and network of spies… if she heard of an imposter…

In seconds, Johanna’s mind raced. Behind her, the guards exchanged confused glances.

“D-Did I hear that right…?”

“The bishop just said ‘Your Highness’…?”

Even the priest’s jaw dropped.

*This polite, gentle bishop addressing a monster… Is this really the cold, cruel pedophile I know?*

“Your Grace, what is this Dragonmaid’s—”

“Silence, fool!” Johanna whirled, her face icy. “This is Princess Feliana Claudeleine of the Dragon Kingdom! The youngest Silver Dragon Queen in history! Mind your tongue!”

She turned back instantly, smile slick as oil. “Please forgive them, Great Silver Dragon. Their dull minds simply fail to recognize your radiant glory.”

The priest fell silent, staring up at the colossal figure.

“Princess… the Silver Dragon Queen…?”

“Exactly! It is I!” Lilith seized the moment.

Viola, hidden in a cardboard box beside a dumpster in a nearby alley, sent a telepathic nudge: *“Lia-chan! Get to the point… Half the spell’s duration is gone already—”*

“Ahem! Humans! I come for one purpose alone!”

“Oh? And what might that be, Your Highness…?” Johanna narrowed her eyes, feigning calm—though she’d guessed the answer. Social graces mattered with vain creatures like dragons.

She knew their kind well: greedy for gold and glory, obsessed with winning, craving praise.

“This wounded Bloodline you’ve beaten—I claim her.”

Lilith scanned the square, finally spotting the slumped figure of Alquett in a shadowed alley corner. Without hesitation, she stretched out a claw toward her.

Alquett leaned against the wall, clutching her bleeding abdomen. She’d hoped to catch her breath in the chaos—until a massive dragon claw slammed down before her, making her flinch.

“Huh… eh?!”

Johanna’s smile tightened.

“…Your Highness, this one is a Demonkind spy sentenced to death tonight in our ‘Purification Ritual.’ Taking her would… damage the Church’s dignity.”

The Light Church’s roots ran deep across the continent—deeper than nations or races. Its power rivaled even the Demonlord Citadel’s. While the Citadel relied on its Demonlord, the Church drew strength from millions of faithful and the divine proof of the Seven Holy Swords.

With gods undeniably real, the Church’s authority grew unchecked.

Johanna believed invoking the Church’s honor would force even a Dragon Queen to compromise—to show the crowd the Church’s influence. *See? Even the Silver Dragon Queen respects us.*

But the reply shattered her expectations—cold, absolute, making her doubt her ears.

“I don’t care about your dignity. I’m taking her. Today.”

*Childish… Does the Dragon Queen not understand politics…?*

*No… As a ruler, she must hear my subtext…*

A chill shot through Johanna. She looked up—the dragon’s silver scales pulsed with unstable magic, flickering rhythmically. Its very form shimmered, swelling and shrinking erratically.

*What… what magic is this? Why can’t I comprehend it…?*

*I’ve studied nearly every high-tier spell… I’m no novice…*

*Is this… a threat?*

Sweat beaded on Johanna’s brow.

*Ah… So it’s absolute confidence in strength. Negotiation means nothing.*

“…Very well. Take her. But at least grant the Church a dignified reason.”

“I said she’s my pet. My slave. My property. Taking what’s mine needs no reason.”

“But—”

Before Johanna could protest further, the dragon’s claw closed around Alquett.

“Farewell!”

Lilith beat her wings, surging skyward. Her silver form vanished into the night, leaving only stunned silence.

Johanna’s face darkened. She descended the platform, waving dismissively at the lingering crowd like swatting flies.

“Scatter. All of you.”

"Number One, come here... wait?"

Johanna, about to call back her new Hero, suddenly widened her eyes and stared at the alley where Alquett had stood.

Where’s my ‘daughter’?!

Damn it—how did they both get snatched away?!

Johanna, who’d been swallowing her frustration until now, snapped. She stomped and cursed wildly after realizing her prized new Hero—whom she’d pinned high hopes on and hadn’t even "enjoyed" yet—had vanished mysteriously alongside Alquett.

"Feliana Clodrin... the Silver Dragon Queen, huh? What a stupid bitch! Hmph..."

Her face flushed crimson, her staff creaking in her white-knuckled grip as she gritted her teeth, spitting venomous curses under her breath.

"Just wait... How dare you be so bold... to openly defy our Church..."

"I’ll remember this debt well! A lady’s revenge... is never too late, even after ten years!"