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"Well, well, seems like someone's feeling a little spark."
Su Nian froze for a moment, his heart skipping a beat. To think that such a delicate and charming Half-Elf Fox-Eared Girl would develop a spark of affection for him—it was enough to make him feel a flutter of joy, a ticklish warmth spreading through his chest.
He had the urge to let out a triumphant roar and puff up his chest.
But he restrained himself. That would be undignified!
"System, why didn't I get a reward? Her Favorability has clearly changed!"
[Ding! The next Favorability reward will be unlocked at 80 Favorability points.]
"Eighty Favorability? What kind of status does 80 Favorability represent?"
As he questioned the system, Su Nian's dragon tail wagged happily behind him, though his dragon face remained stoic as he focused on treating Anna's leg wound.
[Ding! Based on the host's behavior, 80 Favorability can manifest in three main states: Affection, Reverence, and Deep Faith.]
I see.
Su Nian pondered this. It was clear that Anna's Favorability was leaning toward Affection, while his kobold subordinates and other followers mostly displayed Reverence or Awe.
As for Deep Faith, that likely tied into religious devotion. For example, if he ventured into human society to establish a cult and recruit some followers, it might result in this type of relationship.
This system is impressively detailed!
Su Nian couldn't help but marvel internally as he diligently used his dragon tongue to clean Anna's wound.
The decayed flesh was scraped away, revealing fresh, red muscle tissue beneath.
With the dual effects of the dragon saliva's sting and its healing properties, Anna no longer felt as much pain.
"Oh my~ That tickles…"
Anna squirmed uncomfortably, her petite body writhing as a tingling sensation spread from her wound, accompanied by a strange itchiness.
Combined with the dragon's hot breath occasionally washing over the wound, she couldn't help but press her slender, soft legs together, letting out a delicate whimper that carried a hint of nasal tone, like a nightingale's song.
Meanwhile, Outside the Dragon's Lair
Elite Gnoll Grey Wolf gripped Moriyama Yahito's head tightly, dragging him along as he led a group of muscular gnolls back in triumph.
Grey Wolf glanced at the two Elite Gnolls standing guard at the entrance to the dragon's lair. They stood tall and proud, their postures as straight as spears. With legs together, Grey Wolf saluted them with a somewhat clumsy military gesture.
"Grrr, awooo." [Reporting to the master. Got it?]
"Awoo." [Understood.]
After a brief exchange, the two Elite Gnolls stepped aside to clear the path. Grey Wolf nodded slightly, leading his two underlings and the captive Moriyama Yahito into the lair to meet their boss.
By this time, Su Nian had finished treating Anna's wound. He was now coiled on a high rock platform, holding the flushed and feverish elf girl tightly in his arms. His massive dragon head, as large as a car tire, rested gently atop her head.
This behavior was perfectly normal.
After all, what's unreasonable about a dragon hugging its treasures every day?
The Interrogation Begins
"Master, a live one—captured."
Grey Wolf growled out his report, then unceremoniously tossed Moriyama Yahito onto the ground with a loud thud. The poor player rolled a few times before coming to a stop at the base of the rock platform.
When he looked up, he was met with Su Nian's terrifying dragon face and those dark golden, slit-pupil eyes.
"Aah! Mother!"
Moriyama Yahito shrieked, his entire body trembling. He scrambled backward, kicking his legs and clawing at the ground in a desperate attempt to distance himself from the fearsome black dragon. But in his panic, he accidentally bumped into Grey Wolf's leg.
Grey Wolf's face twitched. He grabbed the back of Moriyama Yahito's neck and tossed him back in front of the black dragon. To prevent further antics, he planted a foot firmly on the player's head.
"Also, this—for you, master."
Grey Wolf growled again, pulling a blueprint emitting a faint purple glow from his leather pouch. He signaled his underlings to present it to their master.
"Flame Arrow Tower Blueprint? Not bad, not bad. Must've come from that Silver Chest. Heh heh heh…"
Su Nian's fearsome dragon head lowered slightly, his sharp claws scraping against the rock platform as he leaned closer to Moriyama Yahito. His dark golden pupils gleamed as he scrutinized the mustachioed, shifty-eyed player before him.
[Moriyama Yahito, Level 5 – Priest – Trash]
"Human, raise your head! Look me in the eye!"
The thunderous roar left Moriyama Yahito momentarily deaf, his mind blank. It took him a while to register what the black dragon had said in the common tongue of the continent.
He didn't understand Common, but the game system translated it into his native Sakura language for him.
Cautiously, he lifted his head to glance at the black dragon, only to quickly lower it again in terror.
This was a black dragon—a creature of myth and legend. Its terrifying and majestic appearance was more intimidating than anything he'd ever imagined, more so than even the legendary Yamata no Orochi. He felt that the monsters from the tales of Sakura Island weren't even worthy of licking this dragon's toes.
Seeing Moriyama Yahito's lack of cooperation, Su Nian motioned for Grey Wolf to forcefully lift the player's head.
"Why have you invaded my territory?"
Su Nian's nostrils flared, releasing a burst of sulfurous steam. The scorching white vapor singed Moriyama Yahito's face, instantly reducing his health bar by half and applying a burn debuff.
"G-Great Black Dragon Lord, I-I am… Yes, I'm an adventurer. This is my first time here. I was just passing through your territory. I meant no offense."
Kneeling on the ground, his face gripped by the gnoll, Moriyama Yahito stammered, nearly blurting out his identity as a player.
Though he wasn't sure what would happen if he revealed the truth—whether the natives of this world could even comprehend it—he instinctively felt it was a bad idea, so he lied.
"Nonsense!"
Su Nian's bellow made Moriyama Yahito's head spin, his health dropping further until only a sliver remained.
"How did you open those chests?"
As he spoke, Su Nian slammed a Black Iron Chest onto the ground in front of Moriyama Yahito.
"Well, w-we have… a special ability. Yes, a special ability that lets us open chests."
"We? How many of you are there?"
Su Nian's fearsome dragon face loomed closer, exerting immense pressure.
His cavernous maw opened and closed as he spoke, his raspy, guttural voice like the whispers of a demon from hell. The sulfurous air felt as if it could ignite at any moment.
"W-We…"
No! I can't just blurt out everything!
Moriyama Yahito pinched his thigh, hesitating for a long moment.
Saying he was alone wouldn't be believable; he'd already slipped up earlier.
Thinking quickly, he gritted his teeth and said, "There are… two—no, over a thousand of us."
A thousand?
Su Nian snorted, releasing a smoke ring.
Not a single word from this Sakura Island player could be trusted.
Though he didn't know the exact number of players in Sakura No. 1 Novice Village, if Moriyama Yahito claimed a thousand, Su Nian boldly multiplied that by five.
He estimated there were over five thousand players in this novice village.
This was a looming threat.
In seven days, he would lead his beasts into the village to slaughter these Sakura Island players until they quit the game. Only then could he develop in peace.
Of course, the surrounding novice villages wouldn't be spared either.
Ultimately, he was destined to clash with the players. Avoidance would only shrink his space for survival. Besides, he needed to kill players to accumulate system points and grow stronger quickly.
There was no need to hide anymore. However, he couldn't reveal too much. A young black dragon wouldn't attract much attention from the players, but a black dragon aware of their origins would provoke a united assault. """
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