Side Story - Nest-Building Dragon # 5

As the sand fell, people moved in perfect unison.

They moved their feet, their faces flushed, to be the first to use the limited time and materials.

━"I grabbed this first-! Why don't you use those pebbles or materials over there-!"

━"What, you bastard?"

As I was carefully observing this chaotic construction process, Luna pointed at the people with her finger.

"Hassan, look at that-. There are so many interesting people-! It looks like there are some from Ideope too-!"

"Yeah."

Amidst all that, my eyes searched for Elfriede.

Elfriede found a suitable empty lot, piled up all the prepared materials first, and then began construction.

The audience sat comfortably and watched the process. Some might wonder what's so fun about watching construction, but-.

━"Wow, some guys already have their pillars up, huh? Who is it? That guy, is it Mario the Plumber?"

━"I don't know. But everyone's building a house in no time-!"

Since this theme, along with the rule changes, emphasized the speed of house construction, there was a certain enjoyment in watching the structures go up so quickly.

As many people were drawn to the various acrobatic-like techniques, Elfriede also garnered attention in several ways.

━"Look at that-. Is that a Goblin hut-?"

━"Well-. Whatever it is, it's not winning, that's for sure."

Elfriede's shabby, hut-like house actually caught many people's eyes.

I felt a bit embarrassed for some reason, but Elfriede's expression, as she busily hammered away and wiped the sweat from her brow, was quite serious.

And so, half a day passed-.

Seureureuk, ttuk-.

When the sand in the hourglass had completely fallen, a woman wearing a monocle spoke.

"Please stop working now. Any further touching of the works will result in disqualification."

The noisy sounds that had been loudly spreading throughout the venue suddenly subsided.

━"Damn it-, I still haven't put the roof on."

━"I was just about to put the Door on and it would've been finished, but...."

Only the faint sounds of artisans who couldn't complete their works within the allotted time expressing their regret could be heard.

"Now, all participants, please exit to the special seating area."

The people who had just been building houses rushed out towards the special seating area.

I looked for Elfriede's face, and Elfriede, with her bangs and face completely drenched in sweat, had a remarkably relieved expression.

It seemed she liked the hut she had built.

No matter how I looked at it, it didn't seem like it would win....

Seuk-.

Just then, Sibellos, who had been sitting in his chair, took off the helmet he was wearing.

"Twenty-one thousand six hundred seconds. Six hours have passed, so I can take off my helmet now. Well then, shall we take a look at the works?"

Sibellos, the judge of this competition, stood facing the houses that had sprung up everywhere. The first thing he saw was a beehive, where hexagons clustered together to form a spherical shape.

"A beehive...? Interesting."

It was a giant beehive made by Doris. Although there was no honey or bees, the man, smiling as if amused by the huge beehive, said.

"However, only the outer part is complete. Disqualified. It seems you ran out of time-. It's kindergarten level."

"Aah-! There wasn't enough time...."

And so, the dream of Doris, the Honey Bee Dragon, flew away.

"Is this a house made of sweets? Who on earth would want to live in a house like this? It's not practical-. It looks like a child's toy. If it rains, the house will melt away."

Sibellos walked around, continuously pouring out harsh criticisms on the competition entries.

"What on earth is this? It's not a house, it's trash. No Door, no windows. It would be much better to just live on the bare ground. I'll burn it for you-."

He even breathed fire from his mouth, Kwaaaah-, to burn down the house. What received his praise was, surprisingly, an ordinary-looking Cabin.

A Cabin built by stacking logs.

Sibellos, who had been looking around in front of it as if deep in thought, said.

"This, this is quite well-made in its own way. The Door, windows, and roof are all attached without flaws. The finish is excellent. There's furniture inside too. This, I'll reserve judgment for a bit. Now, finally-."

The moment he stood in front of the truly shabby hut, everyone's breathing momentarily stopped.

A hut that looked like a child's toy no matter who saw it.

Everyone secretly anticipated what kind of harsh judgment that irritable judge would deliver towards it-.

However, compared to his continuous harsh criticisms so far, Sibellos, who had looked around the hut, said nothing.

People, feeling curious, began to whisper, and I could hear them.

━"Why isn't he saying anything?"

━"Isn't it because it's so poorly made that it's not even worth judging?"

━"Well, that's true."

As I was watching Elfriede's face crumple with tension live, Sibellos, who had gone inside the hut, lay down, stood up, and then came out, opening his mouth.

"I have decided on the winning entry of the competition."

The decision of the winning entry.

The moment everyone's attention focused on those words-.

"The winner is this nature-friendly, material-friendly Hut house. It's very well-made. In the future, such natural, raw materials will be popular. You're ahead of the trend."

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Sibellos planted the first-place flag on the hut, which looked old, shabby, and as if a child had hastily made it. Everyone gasped at the sight.

━"What on earth is he talking about? What's 'natural'?"

━"I don't know either. When you think about it, is that old, straw-like thing actually amazing?"

━"Ahem, actually, I knew it. That's the style that's popular in the royal capital."

The reactions were utterly chaotic. Half were confused, as if they didn't understand, and half were pretending to know something, showing off-.

As if not caring about the chaotic atmosphere, Sibellos said.

"So, who is the architect who created this work of art? I will present you with the winner's trophy. Please, step forward to the podium-."

At those words, someone slowly stood up.

Walking awkwardly to the podium with hesitant steps, as if nervous, was the Elf with white, silvery hair, Elfriede.

"Me, I won-. I mean, I was confident, but-."

Elfriede was hesitant like that, but the judge Sibellos, who had called her out, visibly stiffened his expression in an instant.

He asked.

"You, who on earth are you? You're the one who made this? That can't be...."

And then he even denied it, as if it wasn't reality. His eyes were busy looking at the audience seats and the special seating area where the competition participants sat.

What his eyes were searching for was probably his son, Belhaus.

I could almost hear the Mheuh-heu-heu- laughter of a Nymph in my ears.

This was Paranoy's strategy.

The art of substitution.

Sibellos asked again, as if he truly couldn't believe it.

"You, you really built this hut...? Using the materials here, spending all that time, you really made *this*...?"

"Yes, I did."

"Good heavens...."

Sibellos ran his hand Seuk- across his forehead.

I could tell what he was thinking.

He must have thought that hut was the house his son, Belhaus, had built.

He probably never imagined there would be another architect besides his son who would spend so much time and effort to build such a hideous structure.

He must have confidently accepted the blind judging requested by the Nymph Relief Foundation because he was sure he could recognize the house his son built, even with his eyes and ears covered.

But it wasn't his son Belhaus who built the hut, it was Elfriede.

That's why he couldn't help but be flustered.

Of course, only Elfriede, unaware of this fact, merely furrowed her brows.

"What, is there a problem or something...."

"No, it's not that-. What on earth-. Hmm, uh, anyway, I understand. Then, all participants, please stand in front of the works you have created."

At Sibellos's words, after he had collected his thoughts, everyone stood in front of the structures they had built. Of course, the dragon's eyes were directed towards his son.

A boy who looked about ten years old, Belhaus, stood in front of the Cabin. It was that ordinary Cabin that the judge had uniquely praised earlier.

At that sight, Sibellos narrowed his brows.

"Belhaus-. You're the one who built that Cabin...? I thought you didn't even know how to put up pillars-."

"I practiced hard-. To be recognized by my father-. Even though I was disqualified, I still received some praise, so I feel good."

"Ha...."

The dragon let out a deep sigh. His eyes were looking at the boy's palms, which were so rough that calluses had torn and blood was visible. Then, he closed his eyes as if resigned.

"Originally, I should have given the victory to that Cabin. But..., I tripped myself up. This shouldn't have happened. I fell for my own trick."

The man, who had spoken with a growl, now turned his eyes towards me.

"I wondered what kind of person you were, being quite well-known among dragons-. And you even put me in such a difficult position-. Indeed, it is Hassan-nim. This time, it is your victory."

Suddenly, I became the victor.

I didn't really do anything, but-.

"The title of Dragon, I will bestow it upon you all."

Anyway, winning the title of Dragon was a good thing. However, Elfriede, at this incomprehensible conversation, rather furrowed her brows as if displeased.

"What, what are you talking about?"

But in a competition where everyone had committed fraud.

No one told the truth.

* * *

"Look here, Hassan-! What happened back then is in the newspaper-! Landlord Dragon Sibellos-. Competition rigging scandal-. He's going to return all his positions, titles, and peerages-! It seems most of his assets will be put up for auction-!"

As I woke up in the morning and finished my meal, Luna burst open my Door, holding a newspaper article.

It detailed the incident where Sibellos manipulated the competition to pass on the title of Dragon to his son, and the inside story behind it.

Nearly 3,000 Gold of his assets were going up for auction, they said-.

"And look at this-! Hassan, it says Hassan preemptively grasped and shattered all those conspiracies, sounding an alarm against a society where wealth and assets are inherited-!"

"...Really?"

It seems the rumor in the world was that I had defeated the wicked Dragon Sibellos.

Me, breaking down the inheritance of wealth and assets. There probably aren't many guys on this Gaia continent who benefited from their parents as much as I did.

Paranoy must have pulled some strings with the press.

As I was making a slightly bitter face, Luna, who had chwarareuk closed the newspaper, said.

"So Elfriede, that girl, decided to return the title of Dragon after all? She wanted to be a Dragon so badly. What a waste. Should I take it?"

"I don't know. She gets angry when I talk about it. I couldn't even ask her."

Anyway, in an official setting, Elfriede inherited Sibellos's title of 'Dragon'. Fairy Dragon Elfriede.

That was Elfriede's new title as a newly ascended Dragon, but Elfriede, seemingly displeased with the fact that there was some kind of conspiracy she was unaware of, and that she got caught up in it and inadvertently gained the title of Dragon, truly raged like fire.

━"Huh-? Did you think I'd be happy if I achieved my goal through such cowardly means? Huh?"

It was almost enough to set the entire Altmer city ablaze.

Since I understood Elfriede's feelings, I couldn't even make excuses.

Thanks to that, for the past few days, I had to massage Elfriede's shoulders and go through all sorts of trouble to appease her anger.

Even today, I have to help Elfriede with her market shopping.

So I cleared my entire schedule for this afternoon.

"Hassan-! Don't fall behind, come straight-!"

"Yeah-."

Being Elfriede's porter is tiring. She doesn't go out often, but when she does, she buys a ton of stuff, so it takes a long time.

Why is waiting for women to shop so boring?

For me now, this boredom is a greater pain than the spears and swords of attacking bandits.

"Hassan, what do you think? Which scarf suits me better here? This is crimson red, and this is garnet red."

What's the difference? I don't know. To me, they both just looked red. So I racked my brain and gave a plausible answer.

"Elfriede, you look pretty in anything. You can wear either."

"Don't talk nonsense. Look properly, quickly."

Damn it-.

I just want to sit down and rest somewhere.

Elfriede, looking at me like that, said as if she had no choice.

"Alright, then let's just pick this and go sit down and rest somewhere."

"Oh yeah. There's a park nearby. Let's go there."

"Why are you so happy? Do you hate shopping with me that much?"

"No, it's not that. Anyway, let's go to the park."

Sitting on the bench like that, a cool breeze blew, and I felt really good. As I enjoyed the breeze for a while, watching the kids playing in the street, Elfriede said.

"You, you're being punished today, so behave yourself."

"Okay."

"Did you think I'd be happy if I became a Dragon in such a cowardly way?"

"...."

"Even if you don't help, I'll manage it with my own strength. There's no need to cause trouble by pretending to help, that's what I mean."

"Yeah, I get it. I was wrong."

At times like this, it's better to just apologize and get it over with than to be proud. A quick apology. This is my ultimate technique as Hassan, the married man.

As I offered a quick apology, Elfriede glanced at me Seuk with a displeased look. Then, with a small sigh, she said.

"Yeah, well-. Still, I'll accept the sentiment gratefully. Thanks, ya-."

"What?"

"That, I said thanks-. Because it seems you're still thinking of me. Ah, I don't know. Anyway, I've said all I have to say."

To think the day would come when Elfriede would thank me again. Had this girl grown in many ways too? As I was feeling a renewed sense of surprise, she added a few more words.

"In the end, I couldn't become a Dragon. Well, building houses wasn't really my thing anyway. I prefer destroying things over creating them."

"I figured as much. Since you're a Flame Wizard."

"I don't know either-. More importantly, why are you looking around so much? Are you waiting for someone?"

At Elfriede's question, my body trembled heumchit.

"Waiting, for whom-."

"I told you to clear your schedule to spend time only with me today. If Luna or Hippolyte butt in, you're really in for it."

Elfriede said that and then stretched languidly. Towards us, someone was Seuk seuk approaching.

"To meet again in a place like this-. What a coincidence."

It was a handsome man with a rather stern impression and horns on his forehead. It was Sir Sibellos, whom I had met at the competition a while ago.

I wondered what business he had here in Sodomora. Beside him, his son Belhaus was seen holding cotton candy.

However, unlike Sibellos, who greeted us cheerfully, I felt quite uneasy about this reunion. After all, we hadn't met under good circumstances.

But Elfriede, who was closer to being a victim in this matter, spoke to them as if nothing was wrong.

"What brings you to Sodomora?"

"Tourism. Thanks to you esteemed individuals, I no longer have any positions or titles-. So I have nothing to do but enjoy myself like this...."

The gaze jirit- glaring at me was a bit stinging. But the boy Belhaus, eating cotton candy beside him, was very innocent.

"Sodomora's cotton candy, indeed, it's as delicious as the rumors say!"

So it seems.

"Well then, we'll be going now-."

I thought there would be more conversation, but Sibellos simply bowed lightly and turned away from us. Well, what more was there to say to each other?

However, Elfriede asked, speaking to his back.

"If you give up the title of Dragon, what do you become? Just a big lizard?"

It was a rather rude question, but Sibellos, who had paused for a moment, turned around and replied surprisingly lightly.

"Well-. What am I now-. Just, an ordinary father, on his day off, buying cotton candy for his only son, perhaps-."

"Hmph-."

"There are things that only become visible once you let go. Your role is something you define yourself. Of course, the 'you' that others see is important too, but-."

With those incomprehensible and abstruse words, the father and son distanced themselves from us. I don't know why, but that father and son looked surprisingly happy. So, did it turn out well?

Anyway, that wasn't important to me right now.

Today, I had something prepared for Elfriede. There were people I was supposed to meet around here at this time, but I don't know why they haven't shown up.

Elfriede said.

"Shall we get up now?"

"Hmm, no, let's sit a little longer before we go. Just a little-."

"Hassan, I don't have time. I have five more shops to visit this afternoon."

"No, really, just a little-."

So, as I was anxiously looking around in all directions-.

In the distance, something began to appear. It was a group of people holding up something resembling a long banner.

A diverse group of people, young and old, men and women, quickly surrounded us, holding placards filled with words.

"What, what is this-."

Elfriede trembled pareureu as if flustered. Just then, someone among the people said.

"Long live Elfriede-nim, the Great Good Dragon of Sodomora...!"

"Long live Elfriede-nim, the Most Beautiful and Strong Cool Dragon-!"

"What, what kind of trick is this-. What are you doing? Hassan, what did you do again-!"

Elfriede, her face flushed red with embarrassment and shame, grabbed me by the collar. Of course, I could only gasp for breath, keok keok, and make excuses.

"I didn't do it-. Those people, they said they wanted to do it voluntarily. Because you, this time, distributed house-building materials and fixed things in my name-."

"Guh-uh-uh... Good Dragon Elfriede, Cool Dragon Elfriede, what on earth is this-. Seriously, I can't even set them on fire-."

Elfriede pressed her palm to her forehead as if truly embarrassed. However, she didn't seem entirely displeased with people revering her as a Dragon.

As proof, those honest and cool ears were flushed red and twitching up and down.

Umjjil umjjil-.

To think that Elfriede, who had once been ostracized as an arsonist, would now receive thanks from the people she had shown kindness to.

It's probably just her receiving thanks for the donations and volunteer work she did in my name all this time-.

Of course, I didn't say such words out loud.

It was enough to simply enjoy this languid peacefulness.

"Long live Elfriede-nim, the Strongest and Most Beautiful Dragon-!"