A Hero’s Lie, A Dragon’s Truth

“Who is this?! What are they here for?! And… where’s Viola?!”

At dusk, under the dim golden glow of the setting sun, inside the cave surrounded by rocky walls and covered in dry grass—

Daisy sat there, her small body wrapped tightly in a gray-black fur blanket, making her look even tinier.

In front of her stood a tall, unfamiliar visitor.

From head to toe, the figure was sealed in heavy metal armor, not a single inch of skin or face exposed.

Two massive, broad, strangely-shaped greatswords were crossed on their back.

Their entire body emitted a strange herbal scent mixed with something like blood.

Daisy, reborn as a dragon, had never encountered anyone other than Viola in all her years of memory.

Now, suddenly facing such a bizarre figure, she was completely flustered and at a loss.

“So this is a dragon’s cave?”

The armored stranger ignored Daisy’s panic and spoke in a deep voice.

But the voice didn’t sound human at all.

It was metallic, distorted, impossible to tell whether it was male or female—sending chills down the spine.

“Good! Very good! Today, I shall add a new chapter to my ancient legend!”

“W-Who are you?!”

Daisy reacted a beat too late, scrambling up from the grass, clutching her fur blanket as she backed away, staring warily.

“What are you doing here? This is my home with Viola!”

The armored figure showed no surprise, no curiosity.

Unmoved by Daisy’s shouting, they simply continued in that eerie metallic tone, speaking with theatrical flair—

“My name is Karim! The strongest hero among humans!”

Karim… that name sounded familiar…

Daisy felt like she had heard it somewhere recently.

“I am Karim, the greatest human hero! Since the ancient era tens of thousands of years ago, I have traveled the world, bringing the technologies of various races to humanity, elevating their magical civilization, and leaving behind unmatched glory!”

The armored figure spoke dramatically, almost striking poses as they declared their legend.

“After all these years, my former companions have long turned to dust! Now I am recruiting new adventurers to journey the world with me!”

“Little dragon, would you like to come with me and explore the outside world?”

The invitation came suddenly.

Even Daisy, as naive as she was, found it suspicious.

And yet…

Explore the outside world.

It was exactly what she had been longing for.

“Going outside… I really want to… but…”

She lowered her head, hesitating.

But only for a moment.

Then she lifted her face again, her eyes firm.

“I won’t go with you.”

“I do want to explore… but I want to stay with Viola more! I’ll wait here for her to come back!”

“Viola? You mean that female dragon wandering in the forest earlier?”

The armored figure’s tone shifted slightly, carrying a faint mocking edge.

“You don’t need to wait for her anymore… because she’s already been sealed by me.”

“U…?!”

Daisy didn’t fully understand.

But her heart dropped.

It felt like losing everything.

“Sealed… what does that mean…?”

“The Ashen Dragon, Viola—the evil dragon of legend who brought calamity to the world and slaughtered her own kind—was far too dangerous.”

“I, as a hero, sealed her away for the sake of all living beings.”

“She will sleep for hundreds, even thousands of years, unable to harm the world again.”

The armored figure slowly extended a hand toward Daisy.

Not to grab her.

But to invite her.

“So, there’s no need to wait anymore.”

“Come with me and explore the world happily.”

Viola… sealed…

Daisy’s mind went blank.

The fear, the suspicion—gone.

Only emptiness remained.

She had lost the one person she cared about most.

“Then… Daisy? What’s your answer?”

The armored figure watched her closely, even letting her name slip unintentionally.

“U… uuu… WAAAAAAHHHHHH!! VIOLAAAAAAA!!”

Daisy broke down completely.

Her cries echoed through the cave, carrying faint tremors—almost like a dragon’s roar.

She wasn’t the fearless adventurer she once was in a past life.

Now, she was just a child.

A child who depended entirely on Viola.

And children cry when their world collapses.

“Ah—hey! Don’t cry! Don’t cry, Daisy!”

The armored figure panicked.

Flustered, they grabbed their helmet and tore it off—

Revealing silver-gray eyes and a familiar beautiful face.

Their voice returned to normal.

“Stop crying! It’s me! I’m right here!”

“U… u… huh?!”

Daisy froze.

Through her tear-blurred vision—

Viola.

Then it hit her.

Karim…

That was the fake hero from Viola’s shadow play.

“Honestly… you said you want to go adventuring, but you cry so easily…”

Viola dropped the armor.

The “metal” dissolved back into her body—it had been a transformed part of her all along.

The herbal scent came from masking plants.

The “swords” dropped to the ground—

Two massive fish.

Her catch.

“U…”

Daisy realized it.

She had been tricked.

But none of that mattered.

She lunged forward and buried herself in Viola’s arms, crying even harder.

“Viola! Viola! Viola!! You’re okay!!”

“Geez… I told you not to cry… I’m not that easy to defeat…”

Viola’s face flushed slightly.

She gently stroked Daisy’s messy white hair.

“Alright, alright… I shouldn’t have teased you like that. See? You’re not ready to go adventuring yet…”

That night, dinner was roasted fish, roasted meat, and wild vegetables.

Daisy devoured everything.

Hugging a fish bigger than herself, crunching through bones like snacks.

All the earlier fear—gone.

“Crunch crunch… the bones are crispy… crunch…”

Viola watched her, a little guilty.

“You cried so much earlier… what am I to you, Daisy?”

Daisy paused.

Thought.

Then smiled brightly.

“I don’t really know… but you’re the most important to me!”

“Mm?!”

Suddenly—

She was pulled into Viola’s chest.

“Seriously… my Daisy is way too cute. How could I ever let you go?”

**

Later that night—

Viola explained softly:

“There’s a barrier around the cave. Humans or monsters can’t easily get in.”

“But you’re too trusting. The outside world is full of lies and danger. You’ll get hurt.”

“Do you still want to leave?”

“I…”

Before she could answer—

She was flipped over by Viola’s wing and pulled into her arms.

“No need to grow up so fast.”

“I’ll stay with you… for hundreds of years if needed.”

“Goodnight, my Daisy.”

“Goodnight… Viola…”

Daisy closed her eyes.

Her thoughts drifted—

I want to explore the world…

But I also want to stay with Viola…

If possible…

I want to go with her.

**

Unbeknownst to them—

A real group of Adventurers was drawing closer.

And this time—

They had a tool designed to break dragon barriers.