The Choice Not to Betray

“Katie! You useless girl! Stop standing there in silence!”

“I’m asking you—did you find a dragon on this mission or not?!”

“Guild master… I… the… dragon…”

On the third night after leaving the forest with Katie, Daisy stood helplessly to the side inside the Mountain Eagle Guild hall in Gran City’s outer district.

She watched as Katie, under the guild master’s relentless pressure, hesitated and struggled to speak.

Daisy wanted to help her… but didn’t know how.

Right now, Katie truly had nowhere left to go.

Her father was gravely ill.

Her younger siblings needed food.

She owed money to this cold-hearted guild master.

Misfortune had piled up one after another.

Her savings were gone.

She had bet everything on this dragon-search mission.

And now… this was the result.

If she said she hadn’t found a dragon, the mission would be a failure.

She would be penniless and still in debt.

Her family would fall deeper into despair.

But if she said she had found one…

Or worse—if she revealed that Daisy was a dragon…

She might receive a large reward.

Enough to save her family.

But that would mean betraying a child who trusted her.

And Daisy’s fate… would be obvious.

“The… dragon…”

Katie stood frozen, torn apart inside.

Her lips trembled as she glanced repeatedly at Daisy.

At that small, fragile figure in the oversized white shirt.

She bit her lip hard, unable to continue.

“Did the mission scare your brain out?!”

“Can you even speak properly?!”

The guild master roared impatiently, nearly raising his cane to strike her.

Katie…

Daisy began to understand what was happening.

Seeing Katie standing there, biting her lip, she felt a deep ache in her chest.

And suddenly—

An idea came to her.

“……”

Under the guild master’s pressure, Katie finally made her decision.

She lowered her head.

Grit her teeth.

And slowly shook her head.

Not a single word came out.

“Katie!”

“You mean… you didn’t find a dragon?!”

The guild master’s face turned red with rage.

Like it was about to explode.

“I only let you join because I pitied your situation!”

“And this is how useless you are?!”

“If this were a loan shark, you’d already be sold off to repay your debt!”

“If you don’t pay tonight—go sell yourself!”

“Or maybe I should send some collectors to visit your father?”

“N-no… please… don’t…”

Katie staggered backward in terror.

She had no idea what to do anymore.

The guild master reached forward, grabbing for her collar—

But a small figure stepped in front of her.

“This… take this!”

Daisy hesitated for just a moment—

Then firmly handed over the gray-black fur she had been holding.

“Katie is my friend.”

“Stop forcing her!”

“What is this?”

The guild master froze, confused, holding the fur.

“Wait… who is this kid?”

“It’s… scorpion-tailed fox fur…”

Daisy said quietly.

Her small hands slowly withdrew.

“Viola gave it to me…”

“Scorpion-tailed fox?!”

The guild master’s eyes widened greedily.

Half-skeptical, he rushed over to the clerk.

“Check this!”

“She says it’s from a scorpion-tailed fox!”

“That’s impossible…”

The thin-faced clerk took the fur casually at first.

Then paused.

Looked closer.

And closer.

His eyes widened.

He pulled out a monocle enchanted with magic.

Examined it carefully.

Then his whole body trembled.

“G-g-guild master!”

“This really is scorpion-tailed fox fur!”

“It could sell for at least—”

“Shut up!”

The guild master cut him off immediately.

He glanced at Katie cautiously.

Then held the fur like treasure.

A fake, kind smile appeared on his face.

“Katie…”

“Your debt, with interest, should be around thirty gold by now.”

“But considering your years of service…”

“I’ll take this fur as full repayment.”

“We’ll call it even.”

“This mission… I won’t pursue it further.”

“You can go.”

“Next time, don’t come back empty-handed.”

Muttering to himself, the guild master walked off.

Clutching the priceless fur.

Clearly delighted.

Katie stood there, stunned.

She couldn’t even process what had just happened.

Just moments ago, she had been at the edge of ruin.

And now—

She was free.

…This is good enough.

Daisy thought quietly.

Even though she felt a small sense of loss.

But she didn’t look at the fur again.

This was enough.

Friends were people who knew each other.

Who understood each other.

Who shared joy and sorrow.

Who helped each other—without needing a reason.

To Daisy, that was what a friend meant.

Though she was still an innocent young dragon, she already showed the free and stubborn nature of her kind.

Once she decided Katie was her friend—

There was no way she would ignore her suffering.

Afterward, Katie numbly collected the five silver coins she had been unfairly given.

She led Daisy out of the guild hall.

They stepped into the night.

The air was cool.

The city was bright.

Bustling.

“Human cities… are really beautiful.”

Even after everything, Daisy couldn’t help but say it.

Yes, she had seen the ugliness of humans.

Their cruelty.

Their darkness.

But that didn’t erase the beauty of the world.

A world that was both ugly… and beautiful.

As Daisy gazed at the glowing city—

Suddenly—

Someone rushed forward and hugged her tightly.

“Daisy! Daisy!”

“I’m sorry!”

Katie clung to her, crying.

“That was something important to you, wasn’t it?”

“I’m so sorry!”

“Thank you… thank you so much…”

Daisy was surprised at first.

Then… she gently patted Katie’s back.

“Katie is my friend.”

“So this is normal.”

“Waaah… Daisy!!!”

“Don’t cry… don’t cry…”

Under the night sky, on the stone steps of the guild hall, Katie cried like a child.

Daisy comforted her softly until she calmed down.

After that, they walked into the lively streets together.

Looking for a place to stay.

Katie’s eyes were still red.

Her cheeks flushed.

Embarrassed, she changed the topic.

“I have five silver coins now.”

“Not much for adventuring…”

“But enough for a couple months of living.”

“The guild dorm is too crowded…”

“Let’s stay at an inn tonight.”

“An inn?”

“Viola mentioned that!”

“I want to see!”

“And we can take a bath there too!”

“…Maybe not the bath.”

As their laughter faded into the bustling crowd—

On the roof of the guild hall—

A silent figure stood.

Watching them.

Like death itself.

Unmoving.

Observing.

Without revealing intent.