Master’s Only Desire

“So, shall we talk about the Battle of Asella, which I told you about before?”

“Yes, Master.”

Theodore opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for it.

The fact that he was answering the questions right after the class started showed that he had thoroughly reviewed as Sian had emphasized.

Or, perhaps Theodore was so smart that he never forgot anything once he heard it.

Either way, Theodore was definitely a genius. Sian wore a satisfied smile.

“Yes. You remember well. Due to this battle, the continental war in Outchamber began in earnest, and soon, other races also…”

Sian was primarily teaching Theodore the history of Outchamber.

This was because Theodore needed knowledge about it to live in Outchamber.

Knowing the past was also important to understand the current situation. Sian proceeded with the lesson step by step.

“But why did the Kingdom of Ennix stay still at that time?

If they had allied with the surrounding kingdoms and responded early on, they could have easily stopped the Kingdom of Orta.”

“Hmm, a very good question, Theo.”

Moreover, he was so enthusiastic that he would immediately bring up any questions he had.

Just a little explanation and he would absorb knowledge like a sponge.

And to think this child, so thirsty for learning, had been left alone without even a chance.

Sian replied in a gentle tone to Theodore, who was bouncing like a fish that had met water.

“At the time, the Kingdom of Ennix was going through a difficult period internally.

The king suddenly fell ill, and the heir apparent was too young.

The queen was a woman of low status who was barely holding her position by the king’s favor, you see.”

Sian recalled the history book’s contents, along with the memories of the dragon.

The continental war that had broken out in Outchamber. The real beginning was a territorial dispute between two kingdoms.

At the time, the Kingdom of Orta and the Kingdom of Ennix, which had similar powers, had frequently clashed over border issues and escalated into war.

If the Kingdom of Ennix, which was the most powerful in the continent at the time, had suppressed the Kingdom of Orta, history might have changed. And that would have been better for Sian.

However, everything doesn’t always go smoothly. Sometimes it would develop in unexpected directions.

“Having a lot of land on the outside doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a wealthy and well-off country.

Besides, the Kingdom of Ennix was a kingdom made up of vassals who weren’t loyal to the king.

At that time, the Kingdom of Orta, which was smaller but had a system of loyalty to the king, had no choice but to show more power.”

The small but tightly united Kingdom of Orta won every battle, big or small, and eventually defeated the Kingdom of Ennix.

It was something no one had expected. In that process, the Kingdom of Orta, which gradually devoured the surrounding kingdoms, developed into an empire. Sian and the other races also suffered great damage in that process.

“But why did they have to fight so much?”

“Huh?”

“Wouldn’t it have been better if they had just reconciled with each other at this time?”

“Ah…”

Theodore, who had been listening quietly, tilted his head and asked.

He was studying the peace agreement that the Kingdom of Ennix had presented in the middle of the war.

Theodore didn’t understand why the Kingdom of Orta had rejected the peace agreement.

Sometimes, Theodore showed such innocent reactions. Was it because he was young, or was it because of his good nature?

Sian looked at Theodore, tilting his head with a cute expression.

“Yes. It would have been good if the two countries had reconciled and made peace at that time. But it was about the country’s interests. It didn’t happen easily.”

Theodore was following along so well that the history lesson went deeper than expected.

It would be too difficult for him, who was just a child, to understand the war.

Sian, reminding himself of Theodore’s age once again, shortened his words.

“You’ll understand more when you get older. Humans’ greed has no end in the first place.”

“Greed?”

“Yes. Hmm… shall I put it a little easier?”

Sian decided to speak at Theodore’s level. He continued, recalling the snacks that Theodore had eaten deliciously yesterday.

“The cookies you ate yesterday were your favorite, right?”

“Yes.”

“But there were three more cookies in front of you, and I only gave you one and told you to stop eating. What do you think you would think?”

“Um…”

Theodore blinked his eyes innocently. He was deep in thought. Theodore’s face, as he was pondering, was very serious.

“I think I would want to eat more cookies.”

“That’s right. Then what would you do?”

“Um… I would ask Master to give me just one more.”

“Yes, you’re good. Our Theo.”

“Hehe.”

At the cute answer, Sian couldn’t help but reach out and stroke Theodore’s head.

“But there aren’t many people in the world who are satisfied with one or two cookies.

Most people want to eat all three cookies in front of them.”

“But I’m full after eating just one more?”

“Hmm… maybe you won’t even know if you’re full.”

“……?”

No matter how much they have, they can’t be satisfied, so human greed has no end.

But it seemed that it was hard for Theodore, who was still young, to understand.

“Shall we do the rest tomorrow? And from tomorrow, let’s study other things besides history, too.”

“……”

“Theo?”

Theodore was still deep in thought even after the lesson was over. Sian, puzzled, called his name, and Theodore raised his head.

“Do you also have something that you desire, Master?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

Sian groaned at Theodore’s question. He hadn’t thought about it. Desire.

Sian hadn’t felt much materialistic desire even when he was a human. He was not a person with great greed in the first place.

That feeling became even stronger after he was transmigrated into the dragon’s body.

In fact, Sian had a lot of money now. He had an overflowing amount of it.

The treasures Drake had collected by shaking down neighboring countries at the time he made a name for himself as an evil dragon were piled up like mountains.

But even with so many treasures, there was no use for them. It seemed that Drake hadn’t collected them to spend recklessly.

Even though he could live his entire life without eating and drinking like a human, what could he do with a lot of money? He could only pile it up in the warehouse and feel proud.

“Um, well. Master…”

The most he desired right now was a flower tree and rich food?

But since that was a need that he naturally had while living on barren land, it was a little difficult to express it as greed.

Furthermore, he wasn’t even hoping for it for himself now.

“What Master wants now is only for Theo to grow well.”

“Me?”

“Yes, it’s Master’s only desire for you, Theo, to grow up well and be successful.”

“……!”

Theodore’s eyes widened in surprise. Soon, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“Is it a happy thing for Master if I do well?”

“Yes, of course.”

“What if… I don’t do well?”

“Uhm?”

In fact, there was no way that would happen. Theodore was the male protagonist, without a doubt.

He had grown up well even when Drake was tormenting him like that, so how much better would he grow this time?

Sian was already thrilled just imagining it.

“You don’t have to worry about that. Master will be happy no matter how Theo grows up.”

“……”

He hoped he would grow up even more splendidly than the male protagonist in the novel, but that was just Sian’s personal wish.

“Theo?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

When he called Theodore quietly, who was bowing his head, he was startled and raised his head. Theodore, whose face was still red, was somehow flustered.

“Shall we go have a snack together now?”

“Yes, Master.”

When he held out his hand to Theodore, who was obediently answering, Theodore, who stood up, came running and grabbed Sian’s hand. The two walked towards the reception room.

I should teach Theodore other things, starting tomorrow.

History lessons can be taught slowly, as there’s a lot to teach in the future.

I should also start teaching magic and swordsmanship.

Theodore, the protagonist, certainly has outstanding talent in magic and swordsmanship as well.

His heart was already pounding with excitement just thinking about teaching the genius.

Come to think of it, if he wanted to teach swordsmanship, he would need a sword and armor that suited Theodore, so can he get them in time? Sian was thinking inwardly as he was almost at the reception room.

“It’s been a while, Sian-nim.”

“Kunta?”

Sian was delighted to see the person waiting for him in the reception room.

Just when he was concerned about Theodore’s sword and equipment, Kunta had come. Sian looked at Kunta with a smile.

“It’s been a while, Kunta. You came at a good time.”

“Thank you very much for always welcoming me.”

The middle-aged man with a bushy beard bowed deeply to Sian.

His height was quite short. He was only a little taller than Theodore, who was a child.

It was because Kunta was a dwarf. Sian, who was accustomed to it, was not bothered at all, but Theodore, seeing Kunta for the first time and that his appearance was very different from others, was watching from a distance, unsure.

“Hoho… Is this the child?”

“……!”

Theodore, who had been secretly watching from behind Sian, flinched when Kunta showed interest in him. Sian smiled and pushed Theodore’s back.

“Theo, this is Kunta. He’s a dwarf who lives at the foot of the mountain.”

“……”

“Introduce yourselves.”

As he said that, Theodore hesitantly came forward. And he carefully opened his mouth to Kunta.

“Hel… hello.”

“Oh…!”

Kunta’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Theodore.