The small dinosaur-like creature tilted its head, bright eyes fixed on the group.
It let out another soft chirp—uncertain, almost questioning.
What's going on?Is it already lunch time?
Sarah stared at it for a long moment.
Cute… yes.
But also—
A dinosaur.
She swallowed, then turned to Wilson."Sir Wilson," she asked cautiously, "what kind of creature is this?"
It was cute—in a strange, almost wrong way. A cute dinosaur, if that was even possible. And while part of her found it fascinating, another part wasn't sure how she felt about forming a lifelong contract with something like this.
Kael, on the other hand, felt the exact opposite.
This, he realized, is what I was looking for.
Wilson smiled, clearly enjoying their reactions. He glanced at Kael before answering.
"You remember asking me about dragons earlier?"
Kael stiffened just a little.
"Well," Wilson continued, turning his attention back to the creature, "this is the closest thing Red Leaf City has to anything even remotely related to mythical dragons."
He paused deliberately.
"It's called a Drakoryth."
"…Drakoryth," Kael repeated softly.
Something in his eyes sharpened."Does it have a direct bloodline connection to dragons?"
Wilson nodded slowly."You could say that. Just… not in the way you're probably imagining."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"True dragons don't exist in the known world. Or at least, none have ever been confirmed." His gaze drifted, thoughtful. "What we do have are records—ancient ones, recovered from deep dungeons."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Those records suggest that dragons exist… or once existed… somewhere."
Kael absorbed that in silence.
"So the Drakoryth," he said after a moment, "is a descendant?"
"An indirect one," Wilson replied. "Highly diluted. Far removed. But the lineage is real."
Kael nodded slowly."I see."
Then he glanced back at Wilson, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"So that's why you said my imagination was pretty wild."
Wilson chuckled.
"More or less, yes."
Wilson turned his full attention back to the small creature inside the enclosure.
"This Drakoryth has been classified by our researchers as the closest known relative to dragons," he said. "When fully grown, an adult can easily reach fifteen meters in height."
Sarah's eyes widened.
"F-Fifteen meters…?"
"And," Wilson continued calmly, as though he were describing a particularly sturdy breed of horse, "it possesses an elemental breath."
"This one is even rarer among its own kind, possessing dual elemental affinities—Fire and Earth. It can unleash flames offensively, while shaping the earth itself into defensive structures."
He smiled faintly.
"Frankly speaking, it's an excellent first contract," Wilson said. "And very suitable for Miss Sarah."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
A dragon-related creature… here?
In a public Egg and Infant House?
Something didn't sit right.
If this creature was really as valuable as Wilson implied—borderline mythical—then why was it sitting casually among hornless rabbits and fire-breathing chickens?
Then Kael looked at Sarah.
And suddenly—
Oh.
Right.
S-rank talent.
He almost laughed at himself.
I completely forgot.
The realization snapped neatly into place.
This wasn't coincidence.This wasn't luck.
The Beast Tamer Agency hadn't placed this Drakoryth here by accident. It wasn't here "just in case" or "for display."
It was here for Sarah.
Of course, they planned ahead, Kael thought. An organization capable of maintaining a private ecosystem in the middle of a city wouldn't struggle to prepare the perfect beast for an S-rank.
With his doubts settled, Kael straightened and spoke decisively.
"Alright then," he said. "Sarah will take the Drakoryth."
"What?!" Sarah spun toward him. "Hey! I haven't decided yet!"
Kael smiled calmly.
"You don't have to."
She stared at him, stunned.
"I'm the one deciding for you," Kael added lightly. "Remember?"
Sarah's jaw dropped.
Kael turned to Wilson."We'll take this one for Sarah, sir."
Wilson nodded without hesitation."Very well. Then for Miss Sarah—Drakoryth it is."
Sarah turned toward Wilson in desperation."…Sir?"
Wilson simply smiled and subtly tapped the compact communicator embedded in his uniform.
"The decision," he said gently, "was already approved, Miss Sarah."
Silence.
Sarah slowly turned back toward Kael.
"I hate you," she said flatly.
Kael waved it off."Yeah, yeah. You're welcome."
Then he clapped his hands once and looked around the Egg and Infant House.
"Alright," he said. "Now let's find a beast for Mara."
Behind them, the Drakoryth let out a soft chirp, tail flicking with mild curiosity.
And for better or worse—
Sarah's fate had already been sealed.
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