After washing their hands, Naya led Eliya to her room.

Eliya spread her arms wide. Naya knelt before her, gently undressing the little one and helping her into fresh clothes.

All the while, Eliya’s gaze stayed locked on Naya’s neck.

“Mom, are you feeling better now?”

“What’s wrong with my body?”

Eliya peered up at Naya with wide, curious eyes.

“This morning, Mother said you got stung by a bee. She stayed up late drawing out the poison for you—that’s why you woke up so late.”

*What detox?*

*She drew out way too much.*

Naya followed Eliya’s gaze, fingers brushing her own neck.

“Uh… this… I’m much better now.”

A faint blush crept across her cheeks at the memory of last night.

“Mom, you’ve been extra pretty these past couple days!”

“Hmm? Why’s that?”

“Whenever you’re with Mother, your face turns as red as a big peach! But it’s so pretty!”

“So I wasn’t pretty before?”

“You’ve always been pretty! Mom, you’re the most beautiful Dragonkin in the whole world.”

“Prettier than Mother?”

“Of course! If Mother’s *this*—” Eliya held up her pinky, “—then you’re *this*!” She thrust up her thumb.

Naya’s heart bloomed with joy.

“What a sweet talker.”

*Maybe she really could charm a human princess someday.*

“Mom, I want to become the Dragon Sovereign.”

“Why?”

*(If she says “to steal the princess” again… I’ll spank her right now—before the dress is even on.)*

“Because if I’m the Dragon Sovereign, you’ll be my wife.”

“Eh?”

Naya stared, utterly dumbfounded.

“Mom is Mother’s wife. Mother is the Dragon Sovereign. So if *I* become Dragon Sovereign… you’d be *my* wife, right?”

*Is she actually a genius?*

Torn between exasperation and amusement, Naya simply asked,

“What about the human princess?”

“I’ll marry her too! Only kids choose. I want both.”

“Adults know that’s impossible.”

Chuckling, Naya slipped a pink sundress over Eliya—a delicate bloom like jasmine. She settled the girl on the bed, knelt, and pulled on crisp white knee-high socks.

Eliya watched the silver-white dragon horns atop Naya’s head, itching to touch them.

Nearly six, Eliya’s sense of right and wrong was already forming. She saw Naya’s devoted care as something truly great—like storybook children, she felt she should repay her mother.

After the socks were on, she tugged Naya onto the bed.

“Mom, let me rub your back!”

Her tiny fists tapped Naya’s shoulders in clumsy, raindrop-like patters.

They didn’t relax muscles—but warmth flooded Naya’s heart, gentle as a spring breeze.

She closed her eyes.

*Five years ago…*

In her past life, she’d amounted to nothing. Robotic days: work, return to a rented room, solitude. Gaming in spare time—AAA titles, open-world adventures, anime-style RPGs. Sometimes replaying *Dragon Quest*, dreaming of being the Chosen Hero in a thrilling fantasy world.

She never imagined marriage. Children.

She thought she’d fade quietly into fantasy—until a speeding truck on her commute flung her into another world.

Then came the System. She became the Chosen Hero.

*Slay monsters. Level up. Grow stronger. Challenge greater foes.*

*Final boss? The Dragon Queen.*

*Human ascension—what a rush!* After a monotonous life, rebirth meant only adventure, limits, glory.

Yet fate twisted: now she was the final boss’s wife.

“Huff… tired. Did that feel good, Mom?”

“Very.”

Naya turned, pulled Eliya close, and nuzzled her. Eliya giggled, grabbing Naya’s horns.

“Hahaha, Mom, stop!”

“Eliya… Mom doesn’t want you to become Dragon Sovereign.”

Pressing her ear to the child’s chest, Naya whispered her truth.

“Why?”

“Because the Dragon Sovereign faces endless danger. Like Mother—every day, someone wants her dead.”

Having been a Chosen Hero herself, she knew: most heroes chased death recklessly. They poured forth like assembly-line products, waves sent to grant the Dragon Sovereign XP. A few stood out—real threats.

*If I hadn’t been reckless… if I’d leveled steadily instead of chasing adventures with Leo to challenge Elise…*

“I’ll just fight them off!”

“Easy to say.”

*Do you know what the Dragon Sovereign truly faces? Entities from beyond this world. A System blessed with eldritch power—turning people into emotionless task machines.*

“Mom, don’t fear! Nidia said I’m your and Mother’s child—blessed with ultimate defense *and* offense. I’ll be the strongest Dragon Sovereign ever. No one can kill me.”

“Sigh…”

Naya looked up, worry still etched deep.

Holding Eliya tight, she felt five years slip by like a breath.

Yes, she feared danger for Eliya—but deeper still: she couldn’t bear Eliya leaving. She craved only quiet days together, peaceful and bright.

Chosen Heroes? Dragon Sovereigns? She wanted none of it.

*If Eliya had never been born… if I’d never carried her… maybe I’d have followed the System and betrayed Elise.*

But now—she had a child.

This maternal glow, woven into her genes, made her cling to everything.

For family. For Eliya. She’d abandon every old dream without hesitation.

“Mom, you worry too much!” Eliya smoothed the wrinkles between Naya’s brows. “Mother told me she’s planning a journey! I’ll travel with her, train step by step. She’ll teach me hand-in-hand how to be a great Dragon Sovereign.”

“A journey?”

Eliya’s eyes sparkled; she nodded eagerly.

“Yes! Uh… wait—I promised Mother to keep it secret!” She clapped a hand over her mouth. *Such a blabbermouth.*

“Eliya… are you excited?”

“Mm-hmm!”

Naya stroked Eliya’s pink hair, smiling helplessly.

*Of course.*

Children crave play. Eliya, sheltered so long, naturally longed for the outside world.

Only a seasoned veteran like her knew its perils.

[System, just as you said—turning six is truly a milestone for Dragonkin.]

That was why Elise planned this journey now: to gently guide Eliya beyond their walls, into the world waiting.