After purchasing all the ingredients as Naya requested, Bella began preparing the dumpling fillings.

But Naya couldn’t possibly manage alone.

She called Flanna, who was still tending the backyard garden, and together with Bella, the three set to work wrapping dumplings.

The kitchen buzzed with activity.

This peaceful scene was more than the System could stomach.

Had Naya really gotten hooked on this “playing house” game? It had to keep reminding her about the main quest.

System: “Host, isn’t this enough already? Are you seriously making a perfect batch of dumplings for Elise?”

“Of course,” Naya replied. “Dragonkin have hearty appetites. To make sure Elise enjoys them, I need to prepare multiple filling varieties.”

System: “Host, forgive my bluntness—but Elise may not truly love you. Think: she’s always been a distant queen. Before, she’d leave for work without waiting for Eliya to wake. Now she deliberately finishes breakfast with you all. This shift started right after you confessed last night about regaining your memories. She still doubts you. She waits until Eliya rises because the maids will then follow and watch you. Only then does she feel safe leaving. It’s distrust.”

“You’re right. I feel the same. Her change is too sudden. She still suspects me.”

“Exactly! If she truly loved you, how could she bear to doubt you?”

*Good. The Host hasn’t fallen into lovesick delusion.*

She still questioned Elise.

“Flanna, mince the pork finely. Bella, light the stove and prep the fillings.”

Naya flashed a warm smile while directing the maids, her fingers swiftly peeling shrimp shells.

“That’s why I must prove my sincerity—so she truly believes I won’t betray her.”

*You’re utterly impervious to reason, Host!*

The System fumed inwardly. Frustration nearly overwhelmed it—but unless Naya died, it couldn’t switch hosts. It could only grit its teeth and urge her to see reason.

System: “Host, you’re the Chosen Hero! Elise is your sworn enemy!”

“Why?” Naya countered. “In ‘hero vs. dragon,’ the dragon kidnapped the princess and was the Demon King—guilty. But what has Elise done wrong? Why must humans treat her as an enemy?”

“Haven’t you heard: ‘Those not of our kind harbor alien hearts’? To humans, mighty Dragonkin are a threat. Unchecked, ‘savage’ Dragonkin will one day rule the world, trample humanity, and enslave all life.”

“But I am Dragonkin now.”

“You accepted it so fast? Don’t you want to be human again?”

Naya finished peeling the shrimp and lifted the cleaver.

“Honestly… not really. Yes, I feel closer to humanity. But now I have a daughter. I’ve built a home here. Even if Elise doesn’t love me deeply, I know Eliya loves me—and I love her. Whether I’m Dragonkin matters little. What matters is seeing Eliya grow up safe, healthy, and carefree.”

“Host… are you serious?”

“I’m sorry, System. Right now, I don’t want to become a god. I only want to watch Eliya grow and protect her.”

Long ago, as the Chosen Hero, Naya had no family, no child—not even the one she loved existed outside her party.

That was why she once cherished adventure.

The trio had nothing. As transmigrators, they had no roots, no ties—only undaunted heroic dreams.

Yes, all three were transmigrators.

Each had a System.

Leo’s birth name was Li, Lina’s was Lin, and hers was Mo. To blend into this world, they chose names that sounded fittingly fantasy-like.

System: “But if you don’t kill Elise, someone else will. You three aren’t the only transmigrators.”

“Hiss!”

*Clang!* The cleaver slipped from Naya’s hand.

Startled by the System’s words, she’d nicked her finger.

Hearing the crash, Bella and Flanna turned sharply.

“Miss Naya! Are you alright?”

Naya shook her head with a wry smile. “Just a scratch.”

In seconds, the cut vanished without a trace.

*To hell with being human—Dragonkin are the best!*

Look at this healing! Human bodies are so frail. Come join the glorious evolution—become Dragonkin!

System: “Thus humans fear Dragonkin. Dragonkin, humans, any race—they all fear intelligent beings stronger than themselves.”

Naya clutched her hand, head bowed.

Strands of hair shadowed her brows, casting a faint gloom.

“Let her die… as long as Eliya stays safe…”

“Eliya will become the next Dragon Sovereign.”

“…”

“Only by becoming a god can you protect what you cherish.”

“System, say that again and I’ll mute you.”

“Please reconsider, Host.”

*Ugh, this System is so annoying.*

She muted it for a full day.

Still, the words lingered, slowing her knife work.

After dawdling nearly the whole morning, the fillings and wrappers were finally ready. Time to wrap.

The three Dragonkin women gathered around the kitchen table. The maids watched intently as Naya demonstrated.

“Bella, Flanna—watch closely. Place filling inside, cup the wrapper in your palm. I’ll show four wrapping styles. Pick whichever feels right.”

Teaching dumplings to locals of another world was strangely surreal.

“Understood.”

The maids focused hard, mimicking her motions—though wrappers often tore.

Naya patiently corrected them.

“No need to match my speed. First time? Go slow. Quality over speed.”

“Yes, Miss Naya.”

Seeing their growing skill, Naya smiled warmly.

“System… is *this* the ‘savage’ Dragonkin you described?”

They were all so gentle.

Bella, Flanna, even the third maid teaching Eliya magic—they’d once been fierce Dragonkin warriors or mages. Now, they sat calmly, wrapping dumplings beside her.

Racial prejudice truly was terrifying.

Naya glanced at the three baskets already brimming with dumplings. Ten more minutes should suffice.

“I really worry Elise won’t like them.”

That’s why she’d prepared ten fillings—just in case Elise disliked vegetarian options.

Flanna chuckled softly.

“Miss Naya, please don’t worry. Her Majesty always finishes every bite of your cooking.”

Bella nodded. “Yes. When we collect the lunchbox, the plates are clean enough to skip washing.”

*Clean enough to skip washing?*

Naya pictured Elise stretching out her long tongue to lick the plate clean—and couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.