Blue-Eyes White Dragon: Adopted by the King of Knights [85]

If you don’t know how to start a friendship, just invite her to a meal—you can’t go wrong!
—Artoria Pendragon

It’s the most basic instinct, not just for humans, but for all living things.

No one dislikes a free lunch—not even if they’re not especially hungry.

As for whether the food might be laced with poison or some kind of trap… Please. These two girls, who might as well be called “monsters” rather than Heroic Spirits, simply didn’t care!

“Seriously… why am I even doing this?”

Once again, flames danced under a campfire.

Jeanne Alter, barely rested, was forced by Bluey’s eager look to pick up the large fish he’d brought, already cleaned and ready.

She had no idea why she was doing this. Maybe these two monster girls knew some kind of charm spell? Maybe, without realizing, she’d started to like them?

Jeanne Alter brooded silently.

But when the pink-haired dragon girl, introducing herself as Elizabeth Báthory, started cheering and tore a piece of grilled fish off with impatient delight, popping it in her mouth, Jeanne Alter felt a sudden, inexplicable flutter in her chest.

A memory rose unbidden—not hers, but the girl called Jeanne d’Arc.

It was a long, long time ago, back when that girl wasn’t yet the legendary “Saint of Salvation,” just a nameless peasant from Domrémy who could barely read a word.

Even then, she had her own kind of legend.

“Go ahead and ask around, I was the big sister all the kids looked up to!”

She had always shown natural leadership, even before her time had come. Kids loved to gather around her, and she had a whole repertoire of skills for keeping them entertained—grilling fish was one of them.

“Speaking of grilling food, I’ve picked up a few tricks myself.”

Kiyohime—the little green-haired girl—watched the dancing fire with sparkling eyes, her gaze full of longing.

She asked Bluey to catch another small fish and joined the barbecue party.

And honestly, her cooking skills were even better than Jeanne Alter’s.

If Jeanne’s cooking was “just enough to keep kids happy,” then Kiyohime’s was on the “perfect housewife cooking for the one she loves” level.

“Huh? You have a beloved? Seriously?!”

Jeanne stared at the girl, who looked even younger than herself, in disbelief.

“Of course! I’ve always had someone I love, and he loves me dearly too… Don’t tell me you don’t?”

“I… Of course I do! In fact, there are lots of people who like me! The line stretches from Orléans all the way to Paris!”

Defeat. A mysterious, crushing sense of defeat!

Under Kiyohime’s skeptical gaze, Jeanne Alter felt worse than she did after any real loss in battle!

“Ugh, enough already! Can’t you two talk about something real girls should talk about?”

“Like… I don’t know, singing?”

Elizabeth Báthory, who had just demolished two skewers of grilled fish, now barged forcefully into the “monster girl” tea party.

Of course, what started as friendly conversation soon devolved into bickering—but that was all it was.

In the midst of the world ending, isn’t it kind of nice to have a friend who’ll banter with you?

Time always flies when you’re chatting.

Before Jeanne Alter realized it, the sky had gone dark.

Technically, it was time to head back—but for some reason, she had no desire to leave.

Well, she knew the reason.

If she went back, there was nothing to do. Out here, she could joke around with two pretty girls; if she went back, all she’d have for company was that creepy magician with the bulging eyes.

It felt a little wrong to think this way about Gilles… but really, even a witch who wants to destroy the world would rather hang out with cute girls!

“Um… you know, I was actually born from anger. I’m a witch destined to destroy the world!”

At one point during their chat, Jeanne Alter dropped her true identity with a casual tone, though she was secretly anxious.

She was already bracing herself to be rejected by these two little monsters, maybe even to fight them.

But the result was a surprise.

“Huh? Destroy the world?”

“Well, I admit that sounds interesting… but honestly, I think it’d be even better to preserve a few humans and keep them in a pen. That way, the destruction means even more.”

“What do you think, Kiyohime?”

“I don’t care. As long as I can be with the one I love, nothing else matters.”

“But if, after the world is destroyed, it’s just me and him left… ah, that would be wonderful!”

These were two true monsters.

One was born to torment, the other born for love.

Compared to them, Jeanne Alter felt like a good person—at least she’d only wanted to destroy the world and humanity after suffering a humiliating betrayal.

Jeanne Alter decided to stay.

She lingered among these two monster girls, spending what might be a short time, but a truly interesting one.

Three “monsters,” together at last.

None of them could be called good, and certainly not “friends.”

They were just fellow travelers, thrown together in the apocalypse, sharing the same road for a while.

But even so, to Jeanne Alter, these “fellow travelers” were suddenly precious.

Especially the way Kiyohime and Elizabeth Báthory seemed to live only for themselves—caring for nothing but their own desires. Their self-absorbed, “it’s all about me” style had a surprising impact on Jeanne Alter, who was still struggling to define her own existence.

What matters isn’t why you were born, but how you choose to live.

You can’t undo the past. The future is out of reach. All we have is the present.

That was what Jeanne Alter learned from seven days with these two little monsters.

But before she could really ponder these lessons, a magical message from Caster yanked her back to reality.

[My Lady Saint.]
[Fafnir is ready.]

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This is a fan translation of 综漫：青眼幼龙，被骑士王捡到了 by 歌冰丽月. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!